Cold, arctic air will continue to filter into the area through Wednesday
morning, resulting in an extended period of cold air temperatures and bitterly
cold Wind Chill values across the local region. Some spotty very light
precipitation is also possible into early tonight in at least some parts of the
area. Please see below for details on all expected impacts.
...Wind Chill Impacts...
Wind Chill values will continue to average the teens to lower 20s through about 10-11am on Wednesday. Within this broad time period, minimum Wind Chill values will average around 10 degrees around sunrise on both Monday and Tuesday mornings.
If you must be outside for extended time periods during the above mentioned time period, precautions should be taken to prevent frost bite and/or increased fatigue due to the colder temperatures. We recommend wearing loose fitting clothing in multiple layers, as well as a heavy coat, gloves, scarf and a hat that covers the ears. For maximum protection, a ski mask or other face covering should be used especially if you must be outdoors for greater than 15 minutes at a time during the above mentioned time period, and especially during the periods of minimum Wind Chills noted above.
...Temperature Impacts...
In addition to the concern due to bitterly cold Wind Chills, actual air temperatures will also become quite cold during the same time period. Below are the forecast minimum and maximum air temperatures forecast for Sunday-Wednesday (on average for the local area):
Day: Low/High
Today: 29/43 (falling daytime temperatures)
Monday: 22/31
Tuesday: 20/32
Wednesday: 19/47
The high temperature Today occurred during the pre-dawn hours this morning. Temperatures will continue to slowly fall through the 30s through this evening, reaching around 32 degrees area-wide by mid to late evening.
Actual air temperatures will be at or below the freezing mark for an approximate 62-hour period from near 8pm Today through about 10am on Wednesday. The amount of time with at or below freezing air temperatures may be slightly longer in Northern parts of the local area, and slightly shorter in extreme Southern parts of the local area, but 62 hours will be the average across the region. While it is not unusual for the area to experience freezing or sub-freezing temperatures for at least brief time periods in the winter, it is very unusual for the area to experience freezing or sub-freezing readings for such a long time period (i.e., 60+ hours), which is the reason we're calling attention to this particular event.
Precautions should be taken to prevent freezing and/or bursting of pipes, particularly in older and/or poorly insulated structures during the above mentioned time period. To mitigate the risk of frozen pipes, we recommend allowing the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing. It is also a good idea to keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night to avoid fluctuations in the air temperature surrounding the exposed pipes.
...Precipitation Impacts...
Patchy light drizzle and/or spotty very light rain will continue through early evening and then decrease into early tonight. Some of the precipitation may mix with or change to spotty light freezing drizzle and/or ice pellets at times this evening as temperatures begin to approach and then reach the freezing point in a given part of the area. This will especially be the case in Northern parts of the local area. Due to the fact that the precipitation will be very light in intensity and very spotty in nature by that time, no significant impacts from icing are expected locally.
We will continue monitoring trends regarding precipitation and temperatures for this period and issue any updates if conditions warrant.
...Recap of Primary Local Concerns...
To recap, the primary local impacts from this event will be the extended period of cold temperatures (including an unusually long period of sub-freezing temperatures) and wind chills. Please take appropriate precautions as noted above to minimize these impacts during the event.
We will continue monitoring the situation and issue updates as conditions warrant.
...Wind Chill Impacts...
Wind Chill values will continue to average the teens to lower 20s through about 10-11am on Wednesday. Within this broad time period, minimum Wind Chill values will average around 10 degrees around sunrise on both Monday and Tuesday mornings.
If you must be outside for extended time periods during the above mentioned time period, precautions should be taken to prevent frost bite and/or increased fatigue due to the colder temperatures. We recommend wearing loose fitting clothing in multiple layers, as well as a heavy coat, gloves, scarf and a hat that covers the ears. For maximum protection, a ski mask or other face covering should be used especially if you must be outdoors for greater than 15 minutes at a time during the above mentioned time period, and especially during the periods of minimum Wind Chills noted above.
...Temperature Impacts...
In addition to the concern due to bitterly cold Wind Chills, actual air temperatures will also become quite cold during the same time period. Below are the forecast minimum and maximum air temperatures forecast for Sunday-Wednesday (on average for the local area):
Day: Low/High
Today: 29/43 (falling daytime temperatures)
Monday: 22/31
Tuesday: 20/32
Wednesday: 19/47
The high temperature Today occurred during the pre-dawn hours this morning. Temperatures will continue to slowly fall through the 30s through this evening, reaching around 32 degrees area-wide by mid to late evening.
Actual air temperatures will be at or below the freezing mark for an approximate 62-hour period from near 8pm Today through about 10am on Wednesday. The amount of time with at or below freezing air temperatures may be slightly longer in Northern parts of the local area, and slightly shorter in extreme Southern parts of the local area, but 62 hours will be the average across the region. While it is not unusual for the area to experience freezing or sub-freezing temperatures for at least brief time periods in the winter, it is very unusual for the area to experience freezing or sub-freezing readings for such a long time period (i.e., 60+ hours), which is the reason we're calling attention to this particular event.
Precautions should be taken to prevent freezing and/or bursting of pipes, particularly in older and/or poorly insulated structures during the above mentioned time period. To mitigate the risk of frozen pipes, we recommend allowing the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing. It is also a good idea to keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night to avoid fluctuations in the air temperature surrounding the exposed pipes.
...Precipitation Impacts...
Patchy light drizzle and/or spotty very light rain will continue through early evening and then decrease into early tonight. Some of the precipitation may mix with or change to spotty light freezing drizzle and/or ice pellets at times this evening as temperatures begin to approach and then reach the freezing point in a given part of the area. This will especially be the case in Northern parts of the local area. Due to the fact that the precipitation will be very light in intensity and very spotty in nature by that time, no significant impacts from icing are expected locally.
We will continue monitoring trends regarding precipitation and temperatures for this period and issue any updates if conditions warrant.
...Recap of Primary Local Concerns...
To recap, the primary local impacts from this event will be the extended period of cold temperatures (including an unusually long period of sub-freezing temperatures) and wind chills. Please take appropriate precautions as noted above to minimize these impacts during the event.
We will continue monitoring the situation and issue updates as conditions warrant.
