Wind chill advisory issued for Michigan Soo, points north

The following wind chill warning was issued by the U.S. National Weather Service at 10:21 p.m. New Year's Day for the Michigan Soo, St. Ignace and other parts of Northern Michigan.

We've also included a special weather statement issued by Environment Canada for Marathon - Superior North - Wawa - White River - Pukaskwa - Kapuskasing - Hearst - Chapleau - Gogama - Timmins - Cochrane - Dryden - Ignace - Fort Frances - Rainy Lake - Atikokan - Upsala - Quetico - Superior West - Red Lake - Ear Falls - Sioux Lookout - Savant Lake - Lake Nipigon - Wabakimi - Geraldton - Manitouwadge - Hornepayne - Nipigon.

************************* EXTENDED PERIOD OF LAKE EFFECT SNOW SHOWERS TO START THE NEW YEAR.

COLD AIR POURING INTO THE UPPER GREAT LAKES IS PRODUCING LAKE EFFECT SNOW OFF LAKE MICHIGAN, WHICH WILL CONTINUE RIGHT ON THROUGH SATURDAY.

SNOWFALL INTENSITY IS EXPECTED TO BE GREATEST TONIGHT, WITH HEAVIEST ACCUMULATIONS EXPECTED WEST OF M-66 AND CENTERED AROUND GRAND TRAVERSE BAY.

GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS WILL ALSO RESULT IN SUBSTANTIAL BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW, ADDING TO THE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

MEANWHILE, NORTH WINDS WILL BRING VERY COLD AIR INTO EASTERN UPPER MICHIGAN WITH TEMPERATURES DROPPING TO 10 BELOW OR COLDER IN MANY PLACES, WIND CHILLS WILL LOWER TO 25 TO 30 BELOW ZERO.

CHIPPEWA - MACKINAC, INCLUDING THE CITIES OF SAULT STE. MARIE, ST. IGNACE.

WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST SATURDAY.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GAYLORD HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL ADVISORY WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST SATURDAY.

HAZARDS.

TEMPERATURES WILL FALL WELL BELOW ZERO TONIGHT, WITH NORTH WINDS OF 10 TO 15 MPH.

WIND CHILL VALUES.

25 TO 30 BELOW ZERO LATE TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING.

IMPACTS.

WITH WIND CHILLS COLDER THAN MINUS 25, EXPOSED FLESH CAN FREEZE IN 10 TO 20 MINUTES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS.

THIS WILL RESULT IN FROSTBITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS, MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.

************************* A strong Arctic high pressure ridge over Eastern Manitoba will combine with intense low pressure off the Atlantic coast to give a bitterly cold northerly flow to the regions through Saturday.

While most locales are not expected to reach the wind chill warning criteria of minus 40 or lower for three hours, wind chills of minus 35 to minus 40 are forecast.

Listen for further statements.

Additional information may also be found by consulting the latest public forecast.

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