Bitter cold starts today, continues through weekend

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the suburbs due to plummeting temperatures and wind chills starting today and continuing into the weekend.

Temperatures will start at about 9 degrees this morning, but dip to 3 degrees this evening, the weather service says.

Wind chill factors will make it feel like it's -16 degrees, the weather service is predicting.

The forecast calls for the bitterly cold temperatures and accompanying wind gusts to remain through the weekend.

The worst of the wind is expected Saturday night, the weather service reports, potentially producing wind chill factors of -20 degrees to -30 degrees.

People are urged to stay indoors as much as possible. People who must be outside should cover themselves completely to limit the amount of skin exposed to the elements. Make certain to cover your head, face, neck and hands, where most of your body heat can escape.

Here are a few more tips to help you during the deep freeze:

• Layer your clothing. Thermal underwear is always a good choice, as are sweaters. For outer layers, make certain you wear a heavy material such as wool or down.

• Overexertion can be dangerous. When you do too much your body heats up, naturally sweating to cool itself down. This added wetness can be extremely dangerous in low wind chills, adding to the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.

• If your head or feet get wet, your body will lose heat much faster. Layers help to protect against wetness, as you can remove a top layer if it gets wet to avoid soaking through to the clothing nearest your body.

• Avoid drinking alcohol since it can only make you think you're warm. When you drink, it dilates the peripheral blood vessels near your skin, which means more blood — and heat — flows to these vessels away from the core of your body.