Stay warm during upcoming unseasonable cold

FRANKLIN COUNTY - Just days after Erie was hit with a record-setting 56 inches of snow, Franklin County is facing its own weather oddity: Unseasonable cold.

Though snow is unlikely, National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Ceru said the weather has and will continue to be between 10 and 20 degrees colder than what is considered normal for this time of year.

Read:You already knew it: Pennsylvania WCOs are game wardens

Read:Chambersburg man sentenced to 15-30 years for second child-porn possession conviction

The highest temperatures are expected to reach only the upper 20s and low 30s through the weekend, then cool back down next week. Ceru said fairly dry conditions are expected most of the week, with some systems coming through the region toward the weekend, but for Franklin County it's still just a chance of snow.

Ceru said the typical coldest time of year for the county is the end of January and into February, with February being the coldest month of the year.

Wednesday, with a predicted high of 23, will be 17 degrees colder than normal, Ceru said.

"The public needs to be prepared and take safety precautions," Ceru said.

A tip for the general public during the cold: Mittens are warmer than gloves, according to Ceru.

Chambersburg's Cold Weather Shelter is already mostly full, according to shelter manager Craig Newcomer. The shelter run solely on private donations is first come, first served, and spaces are guaranteed for 14 days, with extensions given to people who do community service.

Newcomer said he expects beds to open up because the shelter works with people to find more permanent places to stay once they arrive at the shelter. If someone walks in and there is no space available, Newcomer said the shelter works to find a space for them at another shelter in the region.

Waynesboro's New Hope Shelter has a waiting list for spots and is otherwise completely full, a spokesperson said. For people walking in, their information is taken and once a spot opens up, the shelter will call them to alert them.

Other shelters in the region that Franklin County shelters coordinate with include Hagerstown's REACH shelter, Carlisle Cares and the Adams County Shelter.

The Chambersburg Cold Weather Shelter opens at 7 p.m. each night and closes at 7 a.m., and staff bring food into the shelter each day. The shelter was open for Christmas and will remain open on New Year's Day.

Becky Metrick, 717-262-4762