The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a warning for residents to limit their exposure to the outdoors as temperatures are expected to drop significantly tonight and tomorrow.
"Dangerously cold temps expected tonight into early Wednesday morning as wind chills range from 5 to 15 degrees over much of the area, and as low as -5 to -10 over the mountains," NWS Midland wrote on X. The organization added that people should bundle up and limit their time outdoors as prolonged exposure could lead to frostbite.
City officials have announced the opening of shelters in response to the arrival of the coldest temperatures of the winter season. According to a news release, with temperatures expected to plunge below freezing when the sun goes down, the city will open cold weather warming centers. People who need shelter from the cold can head to designated locations including MLK Jr. Community Center at 2300 Butternut Lane, Breaking Bread Kitchen at 410 E. Florida Avenue, Salvation Army of Midland at 600 E. Wall Street, and Midland Soup Kitchen Ministry at 1401 Orchard Lane.
According to the news release, more facilities may be opened if necessary as conditions evolve. Expected low temperatures are forecasted to be in the 20s for the remainder of the week with Wednesday highs ranging from lower 40s to lower 30s and a 20 percent chance of snow on Wednesday. The chance of snow is predicted to rise to 50 percent on Thursday.