Arctic chill: Coldest day since February

Frigid, windy weather is making for dangerously cold conditions throughout the region this morning.

The wind chill was about zero at 7 this morning in Philadelphia, caused by a combination of gusts and falling temperatures.

Thermometers took a nose dive overnight, dropping from about the freezing mark at 10 last night to 16 at 6 a.m.

That's the lowest temperature since Feb. 11, when the low hit 11 degrees, according to National Weather Service data.

Only one other day this year was colder, Jan. 21, when the low was 15.

At 7 a.m., the temperature was still 16, and winds were about 18 m.p.h. with gusts of up to 30 miles per hour.

In outlying areas and especially in counties to the north, the wind chills were below zero.

In some places, trees still coated with ice from yesterday's freezing rain, and limbs were vulnerable to being snapped in the winds.

A wind advisory remains in effect until 1 this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.

"If possible, do not park vehicle under trees that are encased in ice or are shallow rooted, such as willows," the service cautioned.

Today's high in Philadelphia should only reach the upper 20s.

Tomorrow, the high should approach the freezing mark, and there's a chance of freezing rain at night.

Wednesday will be milder, with rain and a high in the upper 40s.

For more on the forecast, go to http://go.philly.com/weather.