If it didn’t feel cold enough outside, a storm system will bring gusty winds to the area on Sunday.
The extended cold has led to Bucks County officials to extend a “Code Blue” declaration as wind chills threaten to plummet as low as -15 degrees.
The county commissioners’ declaration, which activates local warming shelters, is now set to remain in effect through the morning of Feb. 12.
County officials typically trigger a Code Blue when temperatures are forecast to stay below 20 degrees for at least two consecutive days, but officials noted that wind chill and precipitation are also factored into the decision, according to a statement.
Forecasters expect the most intense cold of the current wave to arrive Saturday morning, with air temperatures dipping into the single digits or below zero.
While a brief break may see some areas rise above freezing Tuesday through Thursday, much of the Delaware Valley is expected to remain in a sub-freezing stretch that began last weekend.
“The longer this stretch of sub-freezing temperatures continues, the higher the risk of impacts including to people and infrastructure,” National Weather Service forecasters said in a statement.
Increasing north to northwest winds Saturday night into Sunday are expected to make it feel colder then the thermometer shows. The area can expect wind gusts between 25 and 35 mph, forecasters said.
While a Sunday storm is forecast to bring light snow and minor coastal flooding to New Jersey and Delaware beaches, no accumulating snow is expected for Bucks County.
Nightly shelters will be operational in Upper, Central, and Lower Bucks County. Guests are required to leave the facilities by 6:45 a.m. each day. The shelter locations that have been activated:
- Upper Bucks: Quakertown Masonic Lodge, 501 W. Broad St., Quakertown. (Opens at 8:30 p.m.)
- Central Bucks: Doylestown Presbyterian Church, 125 Mechanic St., Doylestown. (Opens at 7:30 p.m.)
- Lower Bucks: Woodside Church, 1667 Edgewood Road, Yardley, through Jan. 31. Starting Feb. 1, the shelter moves to Calvary Baptist Church, 250 Green Lane, Bristol. (Opens at 8:30 p.m.)
Residents seeking information on shelter openings can contact the county’s Housing Link Helpline at 1-800-810-4434 during weekday business hours.
Below is the forecast from the National Weather Service:
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 20. North wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 8. Wind chill values as low as -7. North wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 24. Wind chill values as low as -8. Northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 12. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 30. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 10.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 31.
Tuesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 30.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 11.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 28.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 9.
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