extreme cold warning
Definition
A severe weather alert issued by meteorological agencies, such as Environment Canada or the U.S. National Weather Service, when life-threatening cold temperatures or extreme wind chill values are expected or occurring, posing risks of frostbite or hypothermia within minutes.
Criteria vary by region but often involve wind chills below -25°F to -35°F (-32°C to -37°C) or actual temperatures dropping to similarly hazardous levels for several hours.
Examples
The extreme cold warning prompted the mayor to declare a snow day, turning rush hour into a nationwide pajama party.
Under the extreme cold warning, my car door froze shut, forcing me to chisel my way to freedom like a budget Arctic explorer.
With an extreme cold warning in effect, even the squirrels were knitting tiny scarves for their nut stashes.
The extreme cold warning hit just as the outdoor barbecue started—talk about a recipe for frosted failure.