OTTAWA — The National Weather Service said this morning a new winter storm packing Canadian-level temperatures and high winds will blast through the area beginning Wednesday afternoon. Wind chills could hit 20 below to 30 below zero Thursday and Friday, said Jared Leighton, a forecaster with the Topeka office. Snowfall could be heavy and come down quickly, posing more headaches for road crews as winds pick up, he said. In response to the forecasts, state emergency officials activated the state’s emergency operations center in Topeka this afternoon. Winds will die down by Saturday morning but air temperatures could hit 15 below, he said.
