Thursday brought uncomfortable cold to Vermont, with more brutal temperatures on the way for Friday.
A wind chill warning for parts of Vermont means it could feel like it's 30 below zero at times in some places, or perhaps even colder, Thursday night into Friday.
A slightly less severe wind chill advisory for other portions of the state, including the Champlain Valley, could mean "feels like" temperatures as low as 27 below at some points, noted necn meteorologist Michael Page.
At the Winooski construction site of the mixed-use building called City Lights, set to open in the summer of 2017, workers were facing powerful gusts of wind, dressing in layers, and planning tasks for Friday that'll have them less exposed.
"When we're up 50 feet in the air, the wind is even colder," said developer Nate Dagesse. "There's no protection. You really need to dress right."
At Colchester's Porters Point School Thursday, there were no kids on the playground. For their safety, educators opted to hold indoor recess, explained principal Carolyn Millham.
"Even though we're used to cold weather in Vermont, not every student is prepared for really cold temperatures," Millham said.
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Essex Cinema had fans arriving seven hours early for "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," so the theater let them line up inside for the big first showing, to keep them comfortable.
"Especially with sub-zero temperatures, they weren't going to make us wait outside," observed Star Wars fan Chris Hardy.
Lenny's Shoe & Apparel, a retailer in Williston, said it has been slammed with customers buying gear for cold-weather protection.
"When we opened the doors this morning, we had people lining up at the doors looking for winter coats, winter boots, and hand and foot warmers," said Marc LeBlanc of Lenny's. "The hand and foot warmers have been a huge item today."
After colder temperatures and more painful wind chills Friday, Vermonters can expect several inches of snow on Saturday, the National Weather Service said.
Retailers including LeBlanc said they hope the snowfall is light, gradual, and gentle, so Christmas shoppers will not be dissuaded from venturing out in the weather.
