Snow flurries precede extreme cold in Washington area

Residents throughout the D.C. area were treated to snow flurries Sunday ahead of a major cold front.

Flurries began falling Sunday morning, with a few areas experiencing very slight accumulation.

The snow comes as temperatures across the region begin to dip down from relatively mild conditions on Saturday.

An Arctic cold front is expected to cross the I-95 corridor by midnight Sunday, bringing a frigid air mass with it, according to FOX 5 Meteorologist Gwen Tolbart.

The front will bring gusty winds with it and significant wind chills.

Overnight temps on Sunday will fall into the low 20's with wind chills in the teens and single digits. Martin Luther King Day is expected to be bitter cold with daytime highs only in the upper 20's. Winds will remain gusty and wind chills will be in the teens.

By Monday night, overnight temps will only be in the teens.

The cold temperatures and gusty winds could leave many vulnerable to frostbite and hypothermia.

Here are some tips to stay safe:

-Frostbite takes minutes when 20 degrees & 20 mph

-Dress appropriate: wear layers

-Avoid alcohol, caffeine and nicotine

-If you get wet, get indoors immediately and change clothes

-If any part of your feels numb, get inside immediately.

-Call the Hypothermia Hotline 1-800-535-7252