Monday is expected to be one of the wackiest weather days ever in Northern Virginia.
Temperatures will start out in the mid-40s, pretty typical for this time of year here. However, beginning around 5 p.m. they are expected to drop — by about 40 degrees, forecasters say. Nighttime lows are predicted to be 4 degrees, the coldest readings in 20 years.
The record cold is part of the arctic front affecting about one-third of the nation. Sunday’s weather in the nation’s midsection ranged from 22 below in Minot, N.D. (windchill: 58 below) Â to the teens as far south as Kansas City.
Monday and Tuesday, it is the East Coast’s turn. The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang says with the wind chill, it will feel like  it is below zero. Tuesday’s forecast for Reston — High: 16; Low: 12.
In other words, bundle up.
Fairfax County operates extra hypothermia shelters in the winter, including at Embry Rucker Community Shelter in Reston. If you know someone who needs to get out of the cold, please direct them to Fairfax County and local nonprofit services on the Fairfax County Government website.
