A cold arctic air mass will settle into the region late Thursday January 22, bringing dangerously low temperatures through the weekend. Many areas will see high temperatures only reaching the single digits and low temperatures below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Wind chills are expected to make it feel as low as -5 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit in the southern Lower Peninsula down to -35 degrees Fahrenheit in the Upper Peninsula. While the region has already been experiencing cold temperatures, the National Weather Service noted this upcoming weekend is a rare and potentially near record-setting cold event. The daily number of cold-related illness (CRI) emergency department (ED) visits for the cold event from January 18 through January 20 were already higher than expected for this time of year and we may see another increase in CRI ED visits for the cold event this weekend. To prevent cold-related illness such as hypothermia and frostbite, people are encouraged to remain indoors when possible as a wind chill of -20° Fahrenheit will cause frostbite in just 30 minutes.
In light of this forecast, we encourage you to review the following health resources:
MDHHS and MSP Cold Health and Safety and CO Resources:
MDHHS Cold Health and Safety Fact Sheet – also in Spanish
Michigan Fall and Winter Educational Resource Packet
Michigan Prepares – Winter Weather
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Factsheet
MDHHS Learn More About Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Winter Weather and Pets from Michigan State Police (MSP)
Michigan 2-1-1:
Call 2-1-1 or visit mi211.org for information on warming centers. Emergency preparedness coordinators and emergency managers can update warming center information in MICIMS through the WebEOC to ensure MI 2-1-1 has the latest information.
CDC Winter Weather and CO poisoning resources:
CDC Winter Weather: Before, During, and After
CDC – Generator Safety (fact sheet in multiple languages)
CDC – Carbon monoxide (fact sheet in multiple languages)
CDC – Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Basics – Translated Fact Sheets
National Mental Health Resources:
24/7 Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990
24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
MDHHS Environmental Health Bureau (EHB):
MDHHS Toxicology and Environmental Health Hotline – 1-800-648-6942 (Monitored M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with afterhours service for emergency)