Bitter Low Temperatures from Sunday Morning in Western New York

Sunday morning in Buffalo and Western New York was frigid! As a matter of fact, in Buffalo it was the coldest overnight low of the winter, so far.

The temperatures should rebound this week a for a few days. However, overnight Saturday in to Sunday morning, the low temperature at the Buffalo Airport was 7 degrees.

There were some areas around the southern tier portion of Western New York that recorded temperatures well below zero.

According to a statement released by The National Weather Service in Buffalo:

***********************LOW TEMPERATURE***********************
CATTARAUGUS COUNTY...

1 SE ELLICOTTVILLE    -14.0 650 AM 3/05

*************************WIND CHILL*************************

ALLEGANY COUNTY...
3 NNW WELLSVILLE-16.0 404 AM 3/05

CATTARAUGUS COUNTY...
9 SSE DELEVAN -18.0 710 AM 3/05
6 W LIME LAKE-MACHIA -17.0 619 AM 3/05

ERIE COUNTY...
SPRINGVILLE -17.0 540 AM 3/05
WYOMING COUNTY...
YORKSHIRE -15.0 650 AM 3/05

I noticed the cold air immediately Sunday when I had to take the dogs out for their morning routine.  Although the sunrise was spectacular at 6am, the air was brutally cold. What are the effects of the cold air on dogs?

Signs of Hypothermia in Dogs:

According to petmd.com:

The first sign of hypothermia is paleness and strong shivering. This may be followed by listlessness to the point of lethargy and frostbite of certain body parts such as the tail, tips of the ears, scrotum, and foot pads. If left untreated, coma and heart failure may occur.

As we start to warm up this week and rain moves back in to Western new York for a few days, the Iditarod sled dog race begins in Alaska.

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual long-distance sled dog race run in early March from Settler's Bay to Nome, which takes place entirely in the US state of Alaska. Mushers and a team of 21 dogs, of which at least 5^[1] must be on the towline at the finish line, cover the distance in 9–15 days or more. (Wikipedia)