HARRISONBURG VA: (Rocktown Now) — The National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for Augusta and Rockingham counties, warning residents to prepare for dangerously low wind chills beginning Sunday afternoon.

The advisory will be in effect from 4 p.m. Sunday until 1 a.m. Monday, with temperatures expected to feel near zero in valley areas and as low as 10 degrees below zero along the ridges.

Officials caution that these conditions pose a serious risk of hypothermia if proper precautions are not taken. Residents are urged to limit time outdoors, dress in layers, and wear hats and gloves. Farmers and pet owners should take steps to protect livestock and vulnerable animals from the extreme cold.

The advisory also extends to the Northern and Central Virginia Blue Ridge, where similar conditions are anticipated. Elsewhere across the region, wind chills approaching zero are possible late Sunday into Monday morning.

Authorities recommend preparing now for the cold snap and checking on neighbors who may be at risk.