Call it a cold snap or a polar vortex, a deep freeze is upon Southeast Michigan until at least Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. A winter-weather advisory is in effect from 3 a.m. through 1 p.m. Wednesday.
As another two to three inches of snow falls over the next few days, temperatures will start dropping from a 30-degree Fahrenheit high on windy Wednesday to a 4-degree Fahrenheit high on Friday.
Overnight temperatures Friday will drop to 11 degrees below zero, according to the NWS, which predicts windchills Saturday and Sunday about 15 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.
To help people get ready to hunker down for the next few days, Sheriff Michael Bouchard will visit the Baldwin Center, 212 Baldwin Ave. in Pontiac to lend a hand with food distribution, starting at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Brightmoor Christian Church of Novi donated 1,000 bags filled with non-perishable food for the effort. Brightmoor’s pastor, the Rev. Liza Munro, will also lend a hand.
Food will also be given out at:
• Hope Shelter, 249 Baldwin Ave. in Pontiac
• New Birth International Church, 124 W. Columbia Ave. in Pontiac
• Grace Centers of Hope, 210 N. Perry St. in Pontiac
• New Springfield Missionary Baptist Church, 124 Prospect St. in Pontiac
• First Congregational Church of Clarkston, 5449 Clarkston Road, in Clarkston.
A limited number of bags will be available at the Sheriff’s Office Pontiac substation, 110 E. Pike St. in Pontiac.
Oakland County has an online interactive map of warming centers at https://www.oakgov.com/community/emergency-management/need-to-know/safety/warming-and-cooling-centers.
Here are a few:
Farmington Hills
• 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily through 7 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21: Fire Station headquarters, 31455 W. 11 Mile Road.
• 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily through 9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, Costick Activities Center, 28600 W. 11 Mile Road.
Dates and hours may be extended, depending on the weather. For other warming center details call the city’s police command desk, (248) 871-2610, which is available on a 24/7 basis.
Pontiac
• 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. through 8 p.m. through at the Robert Bowens Senior Center, 52 Bagley St.
Oak Park
• 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; Friday and weekend hours may vary, check the city’s website: Oak Park Community Center, 14300 Oak Park Blvd.
People need to bring their own reading material, water, snacks, or other personal items but amplified sound devices are not allowed. Vending machines are on site. No medical services will be provided.
Royal Oak
• 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Royal Oak Public Library, 222 E. 11 Mile Road, is open
• 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Leo Mahany / Harold Meininger Senior Community Center, 3500 Marais Ave.
Waterford Township
• 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Waterford Library, 5168 Civic Center Drive.
Wixom
• 24-hours, daily: Wixom City Hall via the police department lobby, 49045 Pontiac Trail.
Overnight shelter:
• The South Oakland Citizens for the Homeless Welcome Inn: 1717 W. 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak is open for overnight accommodations; (248) 850-3219.