State and local officials are warning residents to prepare now for weekend weather that could deliver extremely cold air and strong winds by the end of the week.

Governor Ned Lamont on Monday evening directed the state’s severe cold weather protocol to go into effect beginning at noon Thursday, February 2, and remain in effect until noon Sunday, February 5.

Temperatures are expected to plummet starting on Thursday night, dipping into the mid-teens, the Office of the Governor announced January 30. The severe cold conditions will remain on Friday and Saturday, especially during the evening hours when temperatures are expected to drop into the single digits and possibly below zero degrees.

Combined with sustained winds of around 20 miles per hour and gusts at times of around 30 miles per hour, the conditions outdoors will be severe during this period.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service remind everyone that extremely cold air comes every winter in at least part of the country and affects millions of people across the United States.

“The arctic air can lead to dangerously cold wind chill values. People exposed to extreme cold are susceptible to frostbite in a matter of minutes. Areas most prone to frostbite are uncovered skin and the extremities, such as hands and feet. Hypothermia is another threat during extreme cold. Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce,” the services note online.

“Don’t be fooled by this mild weather that we are experiencing right now, because it looks like a blast of arctic air and winds will impact Connecticut later this week and this weekend,” Lamont said Monday evening. “With the kind of severe cold weather that is headed our way, frostbite can develop on exposed skin in under 30 minutes. Spending long periods of time outdoors in these conditions is not only harmful, it can be fatal.

“Shelters and warming centers are available across Connecticut,” he continued. “Anyone in need of a safe place to stay warm is urged to call 211 to get connected to a nearby location, and transportation can be provided if needed.”

While activated, the state protocol directs the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), the Department of Social Services (DSS), the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), and the Department of Housing (DOH) to coordinate with 211 and Connecticut’s network of shelters to ensure that the state’s most vulnerable populations are protected from the severe cold weather.

Under the protocol, DESPP’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security activates its WebEOC communications network, an Internet-based system that enables local, regional, and state emergency management officials and first responders to share up-to-date information about a variety of situations and conditions.

The system is used to monitor capacity at shelters across the state, enabling 211 to act as a clearinghouse to assist in finding shelter space for those who need it. Local officials, working through WebEOC, can alert 211 and the state when they open temporary shelters or warming centers.

DSS and DOH coordinate with 211 and the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness in working with community-based providers to provide transportation for people seeking shelter.

DMHAS deploys teams that specialize in working with homeless people to locate those who are at risk, spread the word about the 211 system, and encourage them to take shelter. It also works with shelters to assess and meet the needs of individual clients.

Local Officials Announce Precautions

On Tuesday afternoon, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal and the town’s Emergency Management Office began urging residents to be prepared for severe cold weather and asked that every resident make appropriate preparations to ensure personal safety and readiness.

“Please check on any elderly or frail neighbors to be certain they are doing OK in this weather,” the officials said January 31 via a press release.

The officials also urge the following:

*Be prepared to properly care for pets in severe weather.

*Consider your medical needs. Review continuity of care from existing professional assistance, supply of medications, home delivery of essential supplies such as oxygen, and other specific needs.

*Make an emergency kit with water and food including non-perishable food for a minimum of three days, also a battery-operated radio, flashlight, extra batteries, first aid kit, garbage bags and other sanitation type materials.

*Generators: be sure that any generator is properly installed and vented away from the house. Never run a generator indoors or in the garage.

*Make a backup plan. Make sure you have a communications plan set up with your family, especially those out of the area who may be worried about your well-being. Set up a time and method to get in touch with them to let them know your status.

*Be informed. Make sure cell phones and other mobile devices are fully charged in the event the power goes out. Be sure to listen to the local authorities and weather stations for information on the weather’s progression.

Warming Centers

Residents can visit the locations listed below to seek relief from the cold:

*Newtown Police Department (community room), 191 South Main Street;

*C.H. Booth Library, at 25 Main Street, is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 am to 8 pm, Friday from 9:30 am to 5 pm, Saturday from 9:30 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from noon to 5 pm (telephone 203-426-4533); and

*Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street (203-270-4349). The community center’s weekend hours are Friday, 6 am-8 pm; Saturday, 7 am-5:30 pm; and Sunday, 7 am-5 pm. Residents are asked to call ahead before heading to the community center to be sure the timing of their visit can be properly accommodated.

Important Numbers And Contact Information

*If there is a Life Safety Emergency, call 911

*Connecticut’s free information and referral service: call 211 or visit 211ct.org

*Power Outage, call 800-286-2000

*CodeRED (the town’s emergency notifications system), register at newtown-ct.gov or call 203-270-4370 for assistance

*Smart 911, which automatically provides information including information about a caller, their family members, their home, pets and even vehicles to dispatchers at Newtown’s Emergency Communications Center when 911 is called. Those who register control what information is provided in their profile. Visit newtown-ct.gov and click on Public Safety within the blue banner near the top of the page, and then on Selected Resources.

*Check News and Announcements on the Town website (newtown-ct.gov). Residents can also register there to receive news.

*First Selectman’s Office, 203-270-4201;

*Emergency Management/Fire Marshal, 203-270-4370; and

*Health District, 203-270-4291.

Current Forecast

As of 4 pm Tuesday, no weather warnings had been issued by the National Weather Service for Newtown.

The weather service is calling for a mostly sunny day on Thursday, with a high near 37. Wind chill values will be between 15-25, and there will be a southwest wind 5 to 13 mph.

By Thursday night temperatures will drop to a low around 19, with southwest wind 13-15 mph.

Friday will dawn sunny and blustery, with temperatures falling to around 16 by 5 pm. The evening and overnight will be mostly clear, remain blustery, with a low around -4.

Saturday is predicted to be sunny and cold, with a high near 12. Saturday night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 9.

Temperatures should become seasonal again for the second half of the weekend.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.