Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia Face Dangerous Wind Chills Tonight as Alleghenies Drop to -10°F to -15°F
MID-ATLANTIC — Cold and blustery conditions are expected to intensify across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia tonight into early Friday, with dangerously low wind chills developing across the region, according to updated forecasts.
Wind chill values are expected to fall into the single digits and lower teens across much of the area, while parts of the Allegheny Mountains could experience wind chills as low as -10°F to -15°F, prompting a Cold Weather Advisory for the most impacted locations.
Allegheny Region Faces the Coldest Conditions
The harshest cold is expected across the Alleghenies of western Maryland, eastern West Virginia, and southwestern Pennsylvania, where wind chill maps show subzero values developing overnight.
Locations near higher elevations are especially vulnerable, as gusty winds combine with falling temperatures, rapidly driving apparent temperatures well below zero. These conditions significantly increase the risk of frostbite with prolonged exposure.
Single-Digit Wind Chills Spread Across the Mid-Atlantic
Outside of the mountains, wind chills are forecast to range from the single digits to the lower teens, including parts of central Pennsylvania, northern Virginia, and the Maryland suburbs.
Urban corridors such as Baltimore, Washington, and surrounding communities may remain slightly warmer but will still feel sharply colder due to persistent winds overnight and into Friday morning.
Cold Weather Advisory in Effect for High-Risk Areas
A Cold Weather Advisory remains in effect for portions of the region most likely to experience dangerous wind chills, particularly in mountainous and rural areas where exposure risks are higher.
Forecasters emphasize that even brief exposure to extreme wind chills can be dangerous, especially for children, the elderly, and those without adequate cold-weather protection.
What Residents Should Prepare For
- Wind chills in the single digits to lower teens
- -10°F to -15°F wind chills in the Alleghenies
- Cold Weather Advisory in effect for high elevations
- Increased frostbite risk with prolonged exposure
- Coldest conditions overnight through early Friday
Residents are urged to bundle up if outdoors, wear layered clothing, gloves, and hats, and limit time outside during the coldest hours. Pets should be brought indoors, and exposed pipes should be protected where possible.
Forecasters note that while temperatures will gradually improve later Friday, the overnight and early morning hours will pose the greatest risk, particularly in elevated and wind-exposed areas. For continued cold-weather updates and regional coverage, visit SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
