Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Precautions urged during extreme cold snap

Extreme cold has moved into the Northeast on the first weekend of February.
Ian Pickus
Extreme cold has moved into the Northeast on the first weekend of February.

Extremely cold temperatures in the Northeast today and tomorrow have state and local officials warning residents to take precautions.

Temperatures are forecast to drop as low as 15 below zero, and high winds will make it feel as cold as 50 below in some areas. Among the concerns in such cold weather are the danger of frostbite and fires from unsafe home heating. For an update on New York state’s response, WAMC’s Ian Pickus spoke this morning with Commissioner of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Jackie Bray.

 A "Wind Chill Warming" sign on I-89 in Vermont
Pat Bradley/WAMC
A "Wind Chill Warming" sign on I-89 in Vermont

A lifelong resident of the Capital Region, Ian joined WAMC in late 2008 and became news director in 2013. He began working on Morning Edition and has produced The Capitol Connection, Congressional Corner, and several other WAMC programs. Ian can also be heard as the host of the WAMC News Podcast and on The Roundtable and various newscasts. Ian holds a BA in English and journalism and an MA in English, both from the University at Albany, where he has taught journalism since 2013.