Coldest weather continuing into Wednesday; some warming centers will be open

A woman bundles up against the cold as she walks along Old Troy Pike in Huber Heights, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued as freezing rain and a wintry mix move into the area. MARSHALL GORBY\STAFF

A woman bundles up against the cold as she walks along Old Troy Pike in Huber Heights, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued as freezing rain and a wintry mix move into the area. MARSHALL GORBY\STAFF

The city of Dayton will open warming centers for Miami Valley residents Tuesday through Saturday as cold temperatures continue in the area.

The coldest weather began on Monday, when city warming centers were closed due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. St. Vincent DePaul Dayton had shelters available Monday.

Around noon Monday, the air temperature was 5 degrees in Dayton, and the wind chill was minus-12, according to the National Weather Service.

A Cold Weather Advisory was in effect starting around 1 a.m. Monday morning and continuing until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, as issued by the NWS for Champaign, Clark, Butler, Darke, Greene, Hamilton, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Warren counties.

Very cold wind chills as low as 19 degrees below zero are expected. During this timeframe, the NWS predicts dangerously cold temperatures, which could rupture water pipes.

It is recommended to dress in layers, including a hat, face mask and gloves if you must go outside. Keep pets indoors as much as possible.

The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.

“Very cold temperatures can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure,” National Weather Service officials added.

Temperatures were forecast around 0 degrees for dawn on Tuesday, climbing to about 10 in the afternoon, under partly sunny skies. The early Wednesday morning low was expected around minus-5.

Wednesday afternoon was expected to mark the end of the worst cold, with high temps approaching 20 that day, and 30 Thursday and Friday, with lots of sun.

The City of Dayton Recreation Center (warming center) locations were closed Monday, but are open Tuesday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and are located at:

  • Greater Dayton Recreation Center – 2021 W. Third St.
  • Lohrey Recreation Center – 2366 Glenarm Ave.
  • Northwest Recreation Center – 1600 Princeton Drive.

For shelter needs beyond the hours available at the city’s designated warming centers, residents in need can proceed to the following St. Vincent DePaul shelter facilities at any time:

Gateway Shelter for Women and Families – 120 W. Apple St.

Gateway Shelter for Men – 1921 S. Gettysburg Ave.

Residents are also encouraged to check on their neighbors for any assistance they may need and to remember the shelter needs of pets.

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