By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Salina Post
After rounds of snow across the state, multiple bouts of arctic air will impact most Kansans this weekend and early next week, with windchills in the 20s below zero.
Wichita National Weather Service Meteorologist Chris Jakub said temperatures will fall dangerously low Friday evening and Saturday morning, following that pattern through Tuesday morning.
"A daytime high of around five degrees on Saturday, a high of two degrees on Sunday, Monday, four degrees, so we're going to have low single-digit highs," Jakub said. "We're going to be setting some records with this."
According to Jakub, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, all have chances to break records from as far back as 1909.
Alongside the frigid conditions, windchills will dip to around 20 below zero throughout the weekend, lasting until Tuesday afternoon.
These conditions can become deadly — Jakub said that only 30 minutes of skin exposure to the cold can cause frostbite and hypothermia for those venturing outside.
Jakub recommended that staying indoors is the safest place for residents, but this weekend can become deadly for those stranded outside.
Forecasted flurries of snow will also move into Kansas alongside the frigid temperatures.
Salina-area resources for those in need
Many Salinans either live without a home or become stranded outside during harsh winter conditions, causing frostbite, hypothermia and sometimes death.
Due to this, Saline County Emergency Management created an information hub for all Salinans in need.
"We have a banner on the County website that lists all the weather updates and all of our resources that are available for any condition that might come out of a winter storm," said Saline County Emergency Management Director Michelle Weis. "If you need places to go, they're listed — same-day shelters and their hours."
Often, winter weather causes power outages in neighborhoods across Saline County, plunging homes into dangerous conditions for children or senior residents.
"Be a good neighbor and check on your friends," Weis said. "If you're out of power... the mall is always a great place to just hang out, walk around and burn a couple hours, and it's free."
Weis mentioned a few other community locations and services but stressed that finding somewhere warm to go is critical.
In Salina, some community resources for individuals and families in need include the Salina Salvation Army, the Salina Grace Foundation and the Ashby House.
Ashby House serves women, families and children challenged by poverty by offering various programs — from emergency housing to financial and employment coaching.
Ashby House Executive Director Darrell Burgoon said the current Ashby House emergency and transitional shelters have very limited space but have plans to triple that capacity in the next few years.
In the fall of 2019, Ashby House began a project for a new emergency shelter made from a residential home, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all progress halted until recently.
"From the minute that I got hired a year and a half ago it was my goal to get that thing finished," Burgoon said. "So we hope to complete that house by this summer."
The house would have enough space for 22 adults and numerous children with an expansive basement.
Burgoon said even though the Ashby House's emergency shelter may have little availability, staff will help residents who visit them for help by directing them to other community resources.
Here is a list of the following organizations and resources for residents in need:
The Salina Rescue Mission
The Salina Grace Foundation
Ashby House
Salina Salvation Army