Blacksburg, VA – As Arctic air pushes into Virginia this December, rapidly falling temperatures are raising a serious safety question for residents across the state: Do I have hypothermia? While daytime highs may hover near or above freezing, overnight lows and wind chills are creating conditions where cold exposure can quickly become dangerous.
According to the National Weather Service office in Blacksburg, a Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for parts of Virginia as colder air spreads across the region. Overnight temperatures are expected to drop into the 20s and teens, with wind chills falling into the teens and single digits at times, particularly in higher elevations and rural areas.
Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing core body temperature to fall below 95 degrees. Early warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, slurred speech, confusion, clumsiness, and extreme fatigue. As exposure continues, shivering may weaken or stop altogether — a sign that the condition has become life-threatening…