Meteorologists warn of frostbite potential this weekend

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Updated Feb. 3

The National Weather Service is warning that an Arctic cold front is moving in this weekend, with the wind chill Friday night and into Saturday morning potentially reaching between -10° and -20° for Martha’s Vineyard. The air temperature for those hours is forecast to be around 0°, but northwest winds could reach 40 miles per hour.

Service meteorologist Torry Gaucher says there’s potential for frostbite if skin is exposed to those conditions for longer than 15 minutes. “It’s going to be brutally cold,” Gaucher told The Martha’s Vineyard Times. Gaucher advises that anyone going outside, even for a short walk, should bundle up and not leave any skin exposed.

There’s also a potential for freezing ocean spray Friday night and Saturday morning, which could be problematic for ferry travel and mariners. Ice accumulation on boats from freezing spray can be hazardous.

Temperatures are supposed to “normalize” on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday will still be cold — in the 20s, but it will be windy. Sunday’s high is in the mid-40s.

The National Weather Service says that the wind chill on the mainland will be worse — from -30° to -40° in Boston. That would be the coldest since 2016.

With the cold front, the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society is welcoming animals from the public — even backyard farmers — in its barns for the weekend, whether that’s horses, cows, chickens, or other livestock. The Ag Society has 80 stalls on its grounds. Society president Brian Athearn says there’s a frostbite risk for animals left without shelter with those conditions. “It’s a real possibility,” Athearn said.

Anyone hoping to provide shelter for their animals can contact the Ag Society, 508-693-9549, or the animal control officer in West Tisbury, 508-684-8201.

Harbor Homes winter shelter at M.V. Community will be open 6 pm Friday evening, with guest registration for overnight stays available until 7 pm. On Saturday, the shelter will offer extended hours, and will be open for drop-ins from 8 am to 5 pm. Guests who stay Friday night will be able to stay until Sunday at 8 am. Overnight guests are required to check in/register. Harbor Homes will provide guests with hot meals, beverages, and snacks.

M.V. Community Services is at 111 Edgartown Road in Oak Bluffs. For more information call 508-560-3678.

A winter weather advisory issued Thursday evening by the Dukes County Emergency Management Association suggests a number of precautionary measures for the impending arctic blast.

In addition to the potential for frostbite, the county warns exposure to freezing temperatures can cause hypothermia in less than 10 minutes if precautions are not taken. 

The county suggests a number of safety measures to keep in mind as preparation for the historic freeze.

Vehicles

• Keep your gas tank at least half full
• Maintain tire pressure
• Notify family and/or friends if traveling
• Drive slow and keep your distance
• Pack an emergency supply kit (jumper cables, ice scraper, flashlight, shovel,
• blankets, first aid kit, water, food, etc.)

Residence 

• Keep your residence heated to a minimum of 65°
• Close blinds, curtains, and room doors
• Slow drip all faucets
• Open cabinet doors near pipes
• Check your fuel oil levels
• Know the location of the main water shutoff and turn off outside water
• Use caution with indoor heaters –

            Check that furnaces, fireplaces, wood stoves and electric heaters are working properly

            Make sure there are no flammable items within 3 feet

            Keep your fireplace flue closed when you’re not using it

            Plug space heaters directly into wall outlets (no extension cords) on a flat, solid surface (not on carpet) and unplug when not in use

• Make sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are working
• Caulk/weather-strip windows and doors to keep cold out
• Keep generators outside and at least 20 feet away from buildings
• Ask a neighbor or caretaker to check on your house if you’re away

In the case of a power outage, or mechanical/heating system failure, a number of warming day shelters will be available. 

• Aquinnah Public Library – Fri. Closed | Sat. 11-4PM | Sun. Closed
• Edgartown Public Library – Fri. 11-5PM | Sat. 11-5PM | Sun. Closed
• Oak Bluffs Public Library – Fri. 10-5PM | Sat. 10-4PM | Sun. Closed
• Vineyard Haven Public Library – Fri. 1-5PM | Sat. 10-5PM | Sun. 1-5PM
• West Tisbury Free Public Library – Fri. 10-5PM | Sat. 9-5PM | Sun. 12-4PM

The Oak Bluffs library will hold a free winter clothes drive during business hours; a free community fridge pantry will be open at the West Tisbury library.

Meanwhile, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital issued an advisory Wednesday, warning Islanders to take precautions against frostbite with words of advice from Dr. Karen Casper, emergency medical department director at the hospital. 

“You’re going to want to try to avoid skin exposure, especially of the fingers, the nose, toes — extremities — because they are at high risk of having frostbite set in,” Casper said. “Dressing in layers is important. Keeping all exposed skin covered, and keeping the skin dry is emphasized. If the skin gets wet, it makes [the] frostbite degree of severity worse.” 

Casper said in the advisory there are four degrees of frostbite. The first degree is “when ice crystals just begin to form in the tissue” that might cause some discomfort or sensation of cold. The second degree is a “worsening of that process which causes the skin to get a little warm feeling or maybe a little red.” At the third degree, “you can go from pale, to red, to white and then you’re having much more tissue damage.” The fourth degree “for prolonged exposure is going to be when you have dark blue or black changes which is concerning that gangrene is a real threat.” 

Casper recommended in the advisory to limit times outdoors and avoid windy areas, which can accelerate the frostbite process. Don’t rub or massage exposed body parts since that can cause further damage. Instead, put your hands under the armpits and drink some warm liquids. Put on an extra layer of clothing and remove anything that is constricting, like rings or watches. Putting hands in lukewarm water can also help, but not hot water which can cause further skin damage. 

The advisory states that if an individual has skin changes to dark blue or black, they should go to the emergency room. Individuals who have previously had frostbite or have other conditions, like diabetes, are at a bigger risk. Casper urged in the advisory for people to avoid alcohol, caffeine, and smoking since “they decrease the ability to get warm.”

The drop in temperature also means a risk for hypothermia. Emergency medical services (EMS) on the Island can help in rewarming. Call 911 if there is any concern about frostbite or hypothermia.