The National Weather Service in State College (NWS) is warning Somerset County residents that dangerously cold air temperatures and wind chills are coming to the area for several days, starting Monday.
On Friday afternoon, the NWS issued an extreme cold watch for several counties in western Pennsylvania, including Somerset, from 4 a.m. Monday until noon Wednesday.
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Another weather system is expected to cross the region on Sunday and possibly bring around 3-5 inches of fresh snow to the area. Sunday’s high temperature will be 22 degrees.
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Extremely cold air arrives by Monday
Air temperatures will then drop Sunday night and remain extremely cold through Wednesday, with daytime high temperatures only in the single digits and low temperatures dropping well below zero each night.
Monday’s high temperature will be around 7 degrees, then drop to -7 on Monday night. Tuesday’s high temperature is to be around 10 degrees and the nighttime temperature is to fall to -12, according to the National Weather Service’s 7-day outlook for the Somerset area.
Wind chill temperatures during this time will make the outside air feel as though it’s -20 to -25 degrees, which “could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes,” according to the advisory.
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The National Weather Service recommends residents stay indoors as much as possible during the advisory period, but if they do have to go outside, wear layers of clothing to stay warm and cover any exposed skin with a hat, gloves and scarf to prevent frostbite or hypothermia.
This stretch of extremely cold air should improve by late next week, as daytime air temperatures on Thursday and Friday will be around 27 degrees.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: National Weather Service State College issues extreme cold watch