COLD TURKEY! Get ready for DC's coldest Thanksgiving in over 20 years

WASHINGTON - If you haven't broken out your winter gear yet -- now's the time! This Thanksgiving is expected to be the coldest in the D.C. area since 1996 -- over 20 years ago!

FOX 5's Tucker Barnes says highs on Thursday will only reach 36 degrees. He says the wind chills on Thanksgiving will make it very uncomfortable and will produce fell-like temps in the 20s all day long.

We'll have plenty of sun Thursday but the bone-chilling cold will be unbearable, he says, especially if you're out in line for Black Friday deals. Overnight shoppers should make sure to bundle up!

Tucker also said it's possible that this Thanksgiving could rank in the 'top five' for coldest Thanksgivings ever in the D.C. region.

Exposure to extremely cold temperature leaves you susceptible to frostbite in a matter of minutes. According to the National Weather Service, the hands, feet and other uncovered parts of the body are most prone to frostbite. Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce.

NWS says adjusting your schedule to avoid being outdoors during the coldest part of the day, typically the early morning, is one way to avoid frostbite and hypothermia.

Also, remember to bring in your pets and to fill up your gas tank in case you become stranded. Get more cold weather tips online.

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