The cold front that brought more than 8 inches of snow to Denver should leave the region later today, but not before extremely frigid temperatures set in, posing frostbite and hypothermia risks.
Temperatures will stay in the single digits for a good chunk of the morning, before warming up to a slightly more bearable 21 degrees by mid-afternoon. Folks commuting before 9 a.m. experienced temperatures in the negative digits.
Wind chill won't be a big concern for people in and around Denver, according to National Weather Service meteorologists, but they're still warning people to dress warmly and stay indoors when possible. Under certain conditions, frostbite and hypothermia can set in within 30 minutes or less.
Pets and animals are also susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia if proper precautions aren't taken. Owners who take their pets outside should make sure they clean snow clumps off of fur quickly to prevent blood circulation issues. Animal officials also tell owners to "remove snow, ice, salt and other ice-treatment chemicals from their coats and paws", as those chemicals could pose health risks.
Denver Animal Protection will respond to calls about pets being left outdoors in freezing temperatures. People who fail to protect their pets from the cold may face a $999 fine, jail time, or both.
