Dangerously cold temperatures along with snow are in store for the region over the course of the final days leading up to Christmas.
The National Weather Service says several blasts of arctic air will be headed this way. Tuesday's forecast of high of 5 above zero is expected to be the warmest of the week. The low Tuesday night is expected to be minus 10, and the real cold arrives Wednesday along with snow.
Up to 3 to 5 inches of snow is predicted for Wednesday and anotther 1 to 3 on Wednesday night, with north winds from 20 to 30 mph predicted along with a low of minus 14. Thursday's HIGH is forecast at minus-11, and wind chills are expected to be in the range of 40 below to 50 below zero.
The dangerously cold conditions will continue into at least Christmas Eve. A wind chill watch will be in effect for the region from Thursday morning through Saturday morning.
