It’s Frigid in Groton Today; Be Careful

Brrrr!

Before you venture outside today, take a few extra steps to stay warm in this extreme cold: dress in layers, cover your skin, avoid caffine and alcohol and take breaks.

The Groton Office of Emergency Management issued a statement on the town website urging residents to step into any town building during the day to warm up.

Most town buildings are open from 8 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Senior Center is open until 4:30 p.m. Groton Public Library is open today until 9 p.m., Friday until 5:30 p.m., on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and on Sunday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.

“For after hours warming, the mall is a great place to get warm and get some exercise at the same time, walk laps around the upper and lower levels then have a seat and people watch in the food court,” the office of emergency management said in a statement.

“If you are, or someone you know is, in need of an overnight shelter, please call 211 for information on shelters open specifically for the arctic weather.” 

Here are some cold weather tips, from the Connecticut Department of Public Health website:

• Dress in layers. This helps keep you insulated and lets you take off or add more layers of clothing as needed. Wear many layers of loose-fitting clothing and stay dry.

• Cover your skin. When the wind chill brings the temperature well below zero, be sure to cover your skin. In extreme cold, skin exposed to the cold air can get frostbite in just a few minutes. If you have to go outside, you should wear:
  • Hat
  • Scarf or knit face mask to cover your face and mouth
  • Sleeves that are snug at the wrist
  • Mittens (they are warmer than gloves)
  • Water-resistant coat and boots

• Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages. Beverages with alcohol and caffeine actually make your body lose heat more quickly. Drink hot, sweetened beverages to help you stay warm.

• Perform your work during the warmest part of the day. People who work outside should do so during the warmest part of the day, if possible.

• Take frequent breaks from the cold. If you have to be outside, take frequent breaks in warm, dry shelters to let your body warm up.

• Know the signs of frostbite and hypothermia. Know how to recognize cold illness and when to get medical treatment right away.

Groton’s forecast from the National Weather Service is below:

• This afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 21. Blustery, with a northwest wind around 22 mph.
• Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 11. Wind chill values as low as -4. Blustery, with a northwest wind 15 to 21 mph.
• Friday: A chance of snow, mainly after 4 p.m. Increasing clouds, with a high near 25. Wind chill values as low as -3. Northwest wind 8 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Friday night : Snow likely, mainly before 3 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 17. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph, becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
• Saturday: A slight chance of snow showers before 10 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27. Northwest wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Saturday night: Scattered flurries before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 14.