Oh, the weather outside is frightful, and Bluffton classes have been officially been canceled. On Wednesday, Jan. 30, Bluffton stands to hit a new record for low temperatures as temperatures could plunge as low as minus 11.
The National Weather Service issued a wind chill warning until 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, warning that wind chills in Northwest Ohio could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes. According to the National Weather Service website, “A Wind Chill Warning means the combination of very cold air and the wind will create dangerously low wind chill values. Frostbite can occur quickly and even hypothermia or death if precautions are not taken.”
For Wednesday, forecasters from The Weather Channel predicted a high near minus 4 with winds exceeding 20 mph.
According to Weather Underground, a walk across campus at 11 a.m. today could feel as cold as minus 38 degrees when 24 mph winds are combined with a temperature of minus 11.
The extreme low temperatures and dangerous wind chill ultimately led to the decision to cancel classes and campus events on Wednesday, according to an email distributed by Senior Director of Advancement Operations and Public Relations Robin Bowlus around 10 p.m. Tuesday night.
While most campus buildings and facilities will be closed, The Commons will remain open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for food service.
The Bluffton School District, as well as neighboring districts and nearby colleges, have also canceled classes on Wednesday.
On average, January is the coldest month in Ohio, but temperatures around the Midwest are plummeting well below average this week as a result of a polar vortex.
According to AccuWeather, the average high for Jan. 30 in Bluffton is 34, while the average low sits at 18.
However, the warmest Jan. 30 on record in Bluffton was 2013 when temperatures reached 65 degrees, while the coldest Jan. 30 on record in Bluffton occured in 1966 when temperatures reached as low as minus 10 degrees. Bluffton stands to hit a new record today.
Experts advise limiting your time outside, wearing layers of warm clothing and watching for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
If you need inspiration to bundle up, think about this: It is colder today in Bluffton, Ohio, than in significant portions of Antarctica. For example, the low in McMurdo Station, the largest research facility in Antarctica, is 9 degrees compared to Bluffton’s minus 11.
Granted, it’s summer there. But still, bundle up, Beavers.
