Warming Shelter To Open Through Friday In Cherokee County

CANTON, GA -- Due to the bitterly cold temperatures that have settled into the north Georgia area, Action Church in Canton will open up as an overnight warming shelter for the rest of the week.

Doors will open from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2, Wednesday, Jan. 3, Thursday, Jan. 4 and Friday, Jan. 5. Dinner will be served around 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. A decision will be made later in the week about whether nights of operating the shelter at 271 Marietta Road are needed.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook Tuesday for much of north Georgia, as a frigid Arctic air mass has settled into the area and threatens to stay for the rest of the week.

Meteorologists say the weather in Atlanta on Monday, when the high temperature only got up to 28 degrees, was the coldest New Year's Day since 1977, when the low got down to 11 degrees. Monday's low in Atlanta was 18 degrees.

The rest of the week will stay cold, with light snow possible on Wednesday in south Georgia around Mount Vernon and Lyons. Little-t0-no accumulation is expected, according to the NWS. Low temperatures in the teens and early 20s are expected to persist through at least next Monday, with lows in the single digits in the north Georgia mountains. Wind chills may drop to near, or below, freezing in parts of north Georgia on Thursday and Friday morning.

Thursday may be the coldest day of the week. The high temperature is forecast to be a freezing 32 degrees, with a low of 17. The weather service is urging people to dress properly for the cold and avoid being outside for extended periods if they can help it.

Avoiding Hypothermia And Frostbite

Whether inside or outside, cold weather can be dangerous to those who are not prepared to properly handle it. Advanced hypothermia (decreased core body temperature) can be accompanied by stiffness, excessive shivering, confusion, slurred speech, numbness or a weak pulse. Watch for changes in levels of consciousness and motor coordination, indicated by stumbles, mumbles, fumbles, and grumbles.

Symptoms of frostbite (skin damage due to cold temperatures) include gradual numbness, pale or purple skin, hard (wooden) skin, or tingling or burning in the impacted area. Call 9111 if you or someone you know may be suffering from hypothermia or frostbite.

Children, older adults, and individuals with poor circulatory systems are at particular risk for hypothermia or frostbite. The CDC offers these tips to help cope with winter conditions when outside:

• Layer your clothing to have more flexibility and control over how warm you stay. Avoid cotton clothing for winter activities.
• Prepare for the unexpected. Most hypothermia cases occur due to an unexpected change in the weather or temperature.
• Wear a warm hat; up to 50 percent of body heat is lost through the head.
• Avoid getting wet when the temperature dips.
• Wear waterproof boots or shoes to keep your feet dry.
• Drink plenty of water. Avoid nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol.

Patch editor Doug Gross contributed to this article.

(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)