Seattle, WA – Washington may face a sharp cooldown leading into Thanksgiving week, raising concerns about frostbite and hypothermia, according to updated projections from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Nov. 19 climate outlook signals a significant pattern shift beginning November 25, with colder-than-normal temperatures expected across the Pacific Northwest through early December.
According to NOAA, this upcoming cold pattern is influenced by several atmospheric factors — ongoing La Niña conditions, the Madden–Julian Oscillation, and the potential for a rare late-November sudden stratospheric warming event. Together, these forces may funnel colder Arctic air into the western U.S., placing Washington inside the below-normal temperature zone.
As millions prepare for Thanksgiving travel, mountain passes, outdoor events, and early ski-season openings, state health officials warn that frostbite and hypothermia can develop more quickly than many residents realize — especially at elevation where temperatures fall faster and wind chills intensify.
Common frostbite symptoms include:
• Numbness or loss of feeling
• Tingling or prickling sensations
• Cold, hard, waxy-looking skin
• Skin color changes (red, white, blue, gray, or purple)
• Blisters that may form after rewarming
Ten key signs of hypothermia:
Shivering, slurred speech, shallow breathing, weak pulse, confusion, memory loss, severe fatigue, stumbling or clumsiness, drowsiness, and — in severe cases — loss of consciousness. Infants may appear with bright red, cold skin and unusually low energy.
NOAA urges Washington residents to dress in layers, cover exposed skin, and limit outdoor exposure during the coldest hours of the holiday week. Anyone showing frostbite or hypothermia symptoms should seek immediate medical care and warm affected areas with warm — not hot — water or gentle body heat.
