The Lehigh Valley will see below-freezing temperatures for at least a week as the region continues cleaning up from a record-breaking snowstorm.

High temperatures should not go beyond the 20s, with several days in the teens, through Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Temperatures might reach the freezing mark by the middle of next week, weather service meteorologist Michael Silva said.

“Everything’s kind of locked in with the cold at least for the rest of the work week,” he said.

Cold weather to continue

Silva said a “really strong dome” of arctic air from Canada is leading to the drop in temperatures, some of which could break records.

The weather service has placed the Lehigh Valley, as well as surrounding Bucks, Berks, Carbon and Monroe counties, under a cold weather advisory until 10 a.m. Wednesday. Silva said he expects more advisories or a cold weather warning as temperatures drop even further later in the week.

Lows will be in the single digits, and sometimes below zero, through Sunday, according to the weather service. With wind, it will feel well below zero, with Friday being the worst: A minimum wind chill of -19 is expected that day.

“If you go outside make sure you bundle up, make sure you keep all extremities covered,” Silva said.

The weather service office said the temperatures should be below freezing for seven to 10 days, the first time that has happened in the Lehigh Valley since a two-week period stretching from the end of December 2017 into the beginning of January 2018.

The longest period of consecutive below-freezing temperature days on record was 18 days in February 1978.

Shelters in and around the Lehigh Valley

Those experiencing homelessness can go to the Bethlehem Emergency Shelter or the YMCA Warming Station in Allentown.

The Bethlehem Emergency Shelter at 72 E. Market St. has 70 beds and is open for guests 18 and older. Doors open at 5 p.m. and close at 8 p.m. Guests are woken at 6 a.m. and must leave by 6:45 a.m. according to the shelter’s website.

Brian Sweeney, director of operations for the shelter, said the shelter was open during the duration of the storm this past weekend and Monday as well. They were welcome to leave if they needed to, but they did not have to.

“We made sure that they were welcome to stay in,” Sweeney said.

He said the shelter did not have to turn anyone away during the weekend storm, and staff volunteered to stay during the its duration.

The shelter resumed normal hours Tuesday, but Sweeney said the hours could be extended this week depending on the weather and how other services, such as LANTA, may be affected. LANTA’s service is being modified Wednesday so the buses can conserve fuel.

“If we have to extend hours by a couple hours, then we do so,” he said. The shelter has had to extend hours this year more than the past several years, he said, adding that it’s been a tough winter for the unhoused population with how cold it has been.

He noted the shelter is fortunate that a number of other service providers are nearby to help.

Guests must also get a voucher from the Bethlehem police station at 10 E. Church St. Those who wish to donate to the shelter may do so at its website, bethlehememergencysheltering.org.

The warming station at 425 S. 15th St. in Allentown runs until April 30, and is open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., with intake happening from 7 to 9 p.m. Eighty people went to the shelter between Saturday night and Tuesday morning, according to YMCA spokesperson Michael Reisman. It returned to normal hours Tuesday.

Bucks County last week issued a “Code Blue,” which opens warming shelters in the county. In Upper Bucks, the Quakertown Masonic Lodge at 501 W. Broad St. is open. Doors open from 8:30 p.m. until 11 p.m.

Know the signs of extreme cold-related illnesses

Extreme cold can lead to frostbite or hypothermia. The weather service said uncovered skin and extremities are most prone to frostbite, and hypothermia happens when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Warning signs of hypothermia include confusion, stiff muscles, shivering, difficulty speaking and sleepiness.

An elderly woman died from hypothermia and underlying cardiac conditions last week during a period of extreme cold; the Lehigh County coroner said she was found on the porch of her home.

The weather service said people should limit their time outside, dress in loose layers, and cover all exposed skin. Additionally, people should eat hot food and drink warm drinks, but should avoid caffeine and alcohol. During extreme cold, wear multiple layers, boots, gloves, a warm hat and a face covering.