Don't Forget Pets, Pipes & People During Thanksgiving Arctic Cold Snap

By Chris Spears

DENVER (CBS4) - Outdoor pets, exposed pipes and people in the elements will need extra attention this holiday weekend as temperatures in Denver and eastern Colorado take a nosedive.

The region is looking at a prolonged period with temperatures at or below 20°F.

If possible bring outdoor pets inside or provide them some type of sturdy shelter over the next few days. For large pets that can't come inside ensure they have plenty of food and fresh water that won't freeze.

Pipes on exterior walls that have a tendency to freeze should be covered and people that plan to be outside for extended periods of time should have plenty of warm, layered clothing.

The cold blast is thanks to the first major arctic cold front of the season that moved through eastern Colorado early Wednesday, leaving the door wide open to a batch of bitterly cold Canadian air.

For places like Denver, the foothills and the eastern plains daytime highs will be in the teens and 20s starting Thursday with overnight lows in the single digits. The cold will remain in place at least until Saturday.

Right now it looks like things will start to warm up slightly by Sunday but temperatures will still remain several degrees below normal for this time of year.

Because cold air is dense and shallow this air mass will not make it up and over the Continental Divide so western Colorado and high mountain places like Vail will actually be warmer than Denver over the next few days.

Meteorologist Chris Spears writes about stories related to weather and climate in Colorado. Check out his bio, connect with him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @ChrisCBS4.