Arctic front brings frigid temps to region

Temperatures could be the coldest seen in the region for the past several years, NWS officials said earlier this week. Temperatures in the region could be well below zero, and with the wind chill factored in, those temperatures could drop as low as -15 to -30.

The dangerously cold temperatures are possible through early morning Friday at 4 a.m. Light snow is expected to blanket the region today and Friday, followed by freezing rain during the Christmas weekend, NWS officials said.

Today is expected to be the coldest day of the arctic front moving through the region.

Forecast models call for a high of 4 today in the Sandpoint area with a low of -7. Temperatures are expected to climb slightly Friday, with a predicted high of 13 and an expected low of -2.

In Bonners Ferry, the predicted high today is 1 degree and a possible low of -13. In Coeur d'Alene, the predicted high is 5 and a low of -9.

The temperatures are the coldest that region has seen since 2004. The forecast highs are the coldest predicted since Dec. 15, 2008.

Wind chill values may fall to extremely dangerous levels and travel could be very difficult or impossible, officials said. The dangerously cold wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes, they added.

"These wind chill values are very dangerous and could pose very hazardous conditions for any outdoor activities or animals or anything outdoors, just very dangerous," NWS officials said.

North Idaho climatologist Cliff Harris said it could be 10 degrees below zero today and as low as 20 below with the windchill factor.

The high might be 3 or 4 degrees.

"This is probably the worst cold we’re going to see in the whole winter," Harris said Wednesday.

Harris said this fall, between Sept. 21 and Dec. 20, was the coldest on record, with an average temperature of 35 degrees.

The previous lowest average fall temperature was 37 in 1935, 9 degrees below the average of 44 degrees.

"There’s no other year it was under 40," Harris said.

The area has gone a record 45 straight days without even hitting 40 degrees.

"I can’t find any year we’ve got this long without one warm day," Harris said.

NWS officials said there is a slight chance that the region could get as much as 8 to 9 inches of snow. However, it is almost certain that North Idaho residents can expect at least an inch of snow.

Authorities are advising residents to keep pets indoors as much as possible and to check frequently on older family members, friends, and neighbors. Residents are reminded to use portable heaters correctly and not use generators or grills inside.