KEENE, NH – The Monadnock Region is under a Wind Chill Warning as temperatures are expected to fall into the single digits and not get much better until Sunday.

The Wind Chill Warning, issued by the National Weather Service, lasts through 1:00 Saturday afternoon. Wind chills as low as 40 below zero are expected. The NWS says frostbite and hypothermia are possible if precautions are not taken.

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu held a press conference Thursday afternoon warning folks to prepare for the cold snap and limit outdoor activities.

Those in need of shelter to keep warm are encouraged to contact 2-1-1 to locate the closest site that is open and available to them or visit dhhs.nh.gov. There are two shelters in Keene; Hundred Nights, Inc: 17 Lamson Street, and Southwestern Community Services: 63 Community Way.

Anyone who becomes concerned for the safety of another person during the cold weather should contact local law enforcement on a non-emergency line and request a welfare check. If a person appears to be unsheltered and their life may be in danger, call 9-1-1.

Locally, several communities across the Monadnock Region are setting up warming shelters and taking other precautions. Keene Public Works Director Kort Blomquist said the city is not opening the Rec. Center as a warming shelter since the cold snap is expected to be so short lived, rather according to a release from the department, the Keene Public Library will be open during its regular business hours for folks to come in and warm up.

The Hundred Nights Shelter is working with the city, the St. James Episcopal Church, and the United Church of Christ to help provide shelter for those in need. Hundred Nights Executive Director Mindy Cambiar joined WKBK Friday morning to discuss the situation, the full discussion is available here. She said the shelter is in need of overnight volunteers, and volunteers to come in to help clean up at the churches, as well as sleeping bags, and food donations. Anyone who would like to lend a hand should contact the shelter at 603-352-5197. Anyone in need should contact or visit the shelter.

Elsewhere in the region, in Peterborough a warming station is open at the town library until 6:00 Friday night, then again from 9-3 Saturday. In Claremont the Claremont Savings Bank Community Center will be available as a warming shelter during regular business hours Friday and Saturday, and over in Winchester the town hall opened at 4:00 Friday afternoon as a warming shelter with cots and blankets, and the Police Department says it will remain open until Sunday morning so anyone needing a warm place to stay overnight is welcome. Other communities across the state are opening similar shelters. Winchester, Swanzey and some other towns have also decided to close their transfer stations on Saturday.

Meanwhile the Monadnock Humane Society is also opening its doors to take in any pets who need shelter at no cost to the owner. Anyone looking to take advantage of that support should call MHS at 603-354-4004.

The cold snap is expected to come to an end Sunday, when WKBK Staff Meteorologist Pat Pagano is predicting mostly cloudy skies with temperatures around 35-40 degrees.