Get ready to shiver. A frigid Arctic blast is set to swoop in on Friday.

“I think the actual front comes through late tonight or early tomorrow, probably be accompanied by some snow showers and maybe even a snow squall that could reduce visibility and cause some heavy snow for a short time,” said Tom Kines, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather. “If that did materialize, it might be a half-an-inch of snow in some areas.”

Kines said that once the front comes through, winds will pick up out of the northwest.

“Temperatures tomorrow are not going much of anywhere; in fact they’ll probably fall during the course of the day,” he said, adding that Friday’s high temperature will probably reach about 20. “If we do happen to get a small accumulation of snow with the wind blowing, it’s just going to blow the snow around and reduce visibility as well.”

Kines said that Friday night is expected to be a bitter cold night, with temperatures ending up in single digits, and there may be some areas close to zero.

“With the wind blowing tomorrow afternoon, tomorrow night, it’s certainly going to feel like it’s below zero to 10-below,” he said.

Kines said that will certainly lead to a cold start to the weekend, with temperatures expected to be in the single digits Saturday morning, possibly zero degrees.

He said that by late in the day Saturday, temperatures could get up to around 20.

“It’s probably not going to feel as harsh Saturday afternoon as what tomorrow afternoon will feel,” Kines said.

He said that on Sunday, it looks like temperatures will get back up into the 40s, which will probably continue into the first half of next week.

“We’ve got 24 to maybe 36 hours of bitter cold coming,” Kines said. “That leaves, and temperatures moderate the second half of weekend, and at least the early part of next week.”

Kines cautioned those who have to be outside tomorrow to dress for the cold conditions.

“Obviously those people that have to be outside tomorrow or tomorrow night, even Saturday morning, you got to bundle up, keep your skin covered, and that includes the ears and the nose and fingers; you don’t want to get frostbite,” he said. “You want to wear a hat, a scarf is also a good idea as well.”

Kines said those who have to travel by car would be wise to have a pair of jumper cables on them just in case.

“If there is a silver lining to this Arctic cold coming, it’s that it will be accompanied by very little snow,” he said. “We do think temperatures over the next couple of weeks are probably going to average out above normal, (but) there are some signs that maybe toward the end of next week, we may have to worry about a system of high moisture, whether that be rain or snow.”

Staying warm

Dr. Ismat Ahmad, St. Luke’s Carbon Campus Medical Director, said that increased cold sensitivity is a normal part of aging. “Older adults are especially vulnerable to hypothermia for that particular reason,” Dr. Ahmad said. “They have a thinner layer of fat under the skin, making them more susceptible to cold. Conditions like diabetes, peripheral artery disease and kidney disease can restrict blood flow and lower body temperature.”

Ahmad said she would recommend bundling up and only leave the house if necessary.

“It’s a good day to drink that warm chicken soup,” she said. “Younger children are also more susceptible to extreme temperature. Dress warm.”

Paul Kattner, owner of Kattner Coal and Oil, Inc. in Nesquehoning, offered tips on how to avoid frozen pipes.

“Don’t be cheap with their heat, because the few dollars you’re going to save on oil or gas is going to be far exceeded in the cost of busted pipe repairs,” Kattner said.

Kattner suggested leaving cabinet doors open to get heat; and to let faucets drip or even a very slow trickle to keep water moving so they don’t freeze.

“One of the big things I’ve been running into is (people) using supplemental heat sources,” he said. “Make sure your regular heat system works; you have to use a regular heat system to keep your house warm in the cold weather.”

Kassandra Seng, a cleaner at Carbon County Friends of Animals, said it’s important to keep pets safe.

“Our biggest worries would be actually losing power at the shelter, but that’s a situation that would be handled; our managers and board members would come together to make sure we’re getting heat, all our lights on, keep the place running,” Seng said. “We do have pretty good heat here, we do have extra space heaters, so we make sure to keep all our cats warm during the colder weather.”

Seng offered pointers for those who have indoor/outdoor cats.

“We suggest keeping them indoors during cold weather so they’re not out in the freezing weather, try to keep your house heated, all your pets indoors if at all possible; this cold weather definitely can be deadly if they’re out and about.”