Dangerous, Bone-Chilling Cold Gripping Maryland

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Bundle up, Baltimore. Dangerous, bone-chilling cold is gripping Maryland. A wind chill advisory remains in effect right now.

Rick Ritter with how people are dealing with the deep freeze.

It's an Arctic blast that's packing a painful wind chill.

"My hands are freezing. My nose is running now," Asia Miller.

Old Man Winter pounds Baltimore with its lowest temperatures since last winter.

"Out of all the days, I think today is the coldest," said Katroy Queen.

For Katroy Queen, he battles the cold while working at Pandora Ice Rink downtown.

"Keep skating. Don't stop or you will be cold," he said.

The mindset of many.

"It's pretty chilly on your face, but as long as you've got a scarf and a hat and a coat, you're pretty good to go," said Karen Pfarr.

Others like Alex Mendel aren't worried.

"It's pretty windy around there, but other than that, it's not so bad," said Alex Mendel.

But it's hazardous temperatures that are often overlooked.

"This cold is very dangerous and it cannot be underestimated," said Dr. Marc Leavey, Lutherville Personal Physicians.

Dr. Leavey warns of those dangers.

"When the wind chill gets down around 0, your skin is going to freeze if you're out too long. So you need to be careful," Dr. Leavey said.

Risks that trickle over to the roadways.

"Cold temperatures can mean big problems for motorists," said Christine Delise, AAA Mid-Atlantic.

AAA has already rescued thousands of drivers since the new year--most with dead batteries.

And with the potential for heavy snow this weekend, Baltimore has a rough stretch in the days ahead.

"Winter is here. Winter is definitely here now," said Queen.

Doctors are urging people to bundle up and stay hydrated.

AAA is urging drivers to make sure they have emergency roadside kits in their cars.

AAA says when temperatures dip to 32 degrees, your car battery loses 35 percent of its strength.