As easterly winds continue to make for bitterly cold temperatures overnight, National Weather Service forecasters warn Vancouver residents to take precautions to protect pets and plants. A cold snap that reached the area Tuesday brought with it the coldest temperatures of this winter season. Temperatures reached 32 degrees in the early hours of Tuesday morning, but the 20 mph wind gusts made the air outside feel closer to 20 degrees, meteorologist David Bishop said. Cold temperatures and colder wind chills are expected to continue Wednesday morning, with temperatures in the low 20s or even mid-teens. Wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph could make temperatures feel in the single digits. Bishop said there’s a chance the overnight weather could set a new record low. The coldest Vancouver has reached on Feb. 23 is 22 degrees. Forecasters expect conditions to warm back up to the normal for this time of year as the week progresses, with highs in the mid-50s and upper 40s. Overnight lows are forecasted to remain in the mid- to upper 20s through Friday night. On Saturday, forecasters predict a slight chance of snow between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. before any precipitation would turn to rain.

Protecting plants The cold, dry air can draw water out of plants. Erika Johnson with WSU’s Master Gardener Program encouraged people to water plants before a freeze, during or after to ensure they don’t dry out too much. She said people should protect them from the wind if possible, by bringing potted plants into a garage or clustering them together. If people can’t move them, she suggested wrapping the roots of plants that are exposed out in the open in a blanket or protective plastic and wrap the tops of taller plants. Johnson said she’d heard of people beginning to see buds and blooms after a warm, sunny spell. During cold snaps with clear skies, like the one this week, she said some trees can be at risk for sun scalding. The warm rays of the sun can create a patch on the south and west sides of trees with thin bark, such as fruit trees, that can turn into a wound in the cold. Those spots are vulnerable to pests and diseases. People can protect vulnerable trees by wrapping their trunks with cloth or tree wrap.

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