A polar vortex caused wind chill temperatures to reach minus 40 degrees in Mechanicsburg on Wednesday and minus 37 degrees in Springfield.
StormCenter 7 Meteorologist Dontae Jones said the bitter cold temperatures are expected to stick around Thursday, with high temperatures expected in the low to middle teens and wind chills in the range of 5 to 15 below zero.
“Wind chills will range from 15 to 30 below zero in the morning. Clouds increase through the day as temperatures get into the single digits for the afternoon,” he said. “A quick, moving system will bring snow back to the region Thursday night into Friday morning. Road temperatures will be very cold, so the snow will stick.”
PHOTOS: Frigid temperatures in Springfield
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Springfield will keep open a warming center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, in the community room at the National Trail Parks and Recreation District offices, 1301 Mitchell Blvd. Officials will have coffee, hot chocolate and activities for those who need shelter from the cold.
A 24-hour warming shelter will remain open in western Clark County until noon on Friday to help residents in need of assistance during extreme cold temperatures impacting the region according to the Clark County Emergency Management Agency.
The shelter is located at the First United Methodist Church, 220 S. Main St., New Carlisle. It will remain available to the public through noon on Friday. The church can be reached at 937-845-8435.
Pastor Frank James said that although no one showed up Wednesday, the shelter will remain open. “There is plenty of food and cots available for those who need shelter and to get out of the cold,” he said.
In North Hampton, the Asbury Church will open its doors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday. Residents are asked to call 937-964-1362 to report any emergencies related to the cold.
Clark County officials have been directing people to the Interfaith Hospitality Network, 501 W. High St. from the start of the severe cold weather forecasts. The facility also serves as a warming center during cold weather once temperatures reach 10 degrees or lower. The facility can be reached at 937-325-8154.
The Springfield Soup Kitchen will be operating a warming center on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., said Fred Stegner, operator of the facility.
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