The National Weather Service has issued dangerous wind chill alert, with wind chills of 15 below zero expected in our listening area late tonight until Wednesday morning.

Wind chill is a great predictor of such dangers as frostbite and hypothermia. Being exposed to below zero wind chills can induce frostbite within five minutes.

While wind chills below minus 20 degrees can result in frostbite within a minute of exposure.

Remember when going outside in dangerous wind chills, covering exposed skin should be your main concern. But even with your skin covered, wind chills can still be dangerous when exposed to them for long periods of time.

The best course of action is to stay inside when these conditions exist. If you need to go outside remember to dress in layers, and minimize skin exposure.

If it’s dangerously cold outside for you, it’s dangerously cold outside for pets. If you can, bring your pets inside during this time.

If you can’t bring pets inside, make sure you provide them with appropriate shelter and bedding to shield them from the wind and cold temperatures, and allow them to retain their body heat.

Also, make sure they have access to plenty of food and clean and unfrozen water.

To protect your plumbing, keep cabinet doors under sinks and around other plumbing areas open and make sure any heat tape you have installed is in working order and is turned on.