Lawrence was blanketed by an inch of snow Wednesday, making sidewalks and streets slick. But another hazard is expected Wednesday night — wind chills nearing minus 20, says a local meteorologist.

“Wind chills that cold are certainly dangerous to exposed skin,” said Ross Janssen, 6News meteorologist.

Janssen said the National Weather Service has posted a wind chill advisory for parts of northeast Kansas, including the Lawrence area, through 10 a.m. Thursday.

Under a wind chill advisory, conditions are cold enough to put exposed skin at risk of frostbite.

The National Weather Service advises that if you have to go outside, remember that several layers of clothes will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. And a hat is important because 20 percent of body heat loss is through the head.

Wednesday night’s temperature will dip to minus 4 degrees.

“Winds will be 5 to 15 miles per hour, so the wind chill will be minus 20,” Janssen said.

Thursday the high will be about 17, with wind chills zero to 5 degrees and partly cloudy skies.

“We won’t see any more snow tomorrow,” he said.

The temperature will drop early Friday morning to 6 degrees, with mostly cloudy skies. Friday’s high will be 33.

Saturday morning, the temperature will drop to 14, with partly cloudy skies.

“But I think we’ll see an increase in clouds by the afternoon hours,” Janssen said.

Saturday afternoon will be mostly cloudy, high of 38.

Sunday’s temperature will cooling back down, with a high of 29. But there will be some warmth ahead — Monday’s high is expected to be 53.

¢ See the National Weather Service’s Wind Chill Chart.¢ For the latest forecast, go to weather.lawrence.com and tune in at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to Sunflower Broadband Channel 6.¢ See the 6News midday forecast in Quicktime video format.Related story¢City goes outside law to bring homeless inside