Record Breaking Polar Air Will Invade Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia
Records will be challenged, if not broken Monday and Tuesday as a polar vortex dives south across central and eastern United States and sets up squarely over the Ohio River Valley. This next storm system will be some of the worst weather, in regards to the temperatures, that we have seen in more than 5 years. Some of the records for Tuesday have been in place for more than 60 years and in some cases over 100 years!
FLASH FREEZE: A dramatic warm up will occur Saturday and Sunday across Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia with temperatures warming into the 40s and some highs on Sunday near 50 degrees. This warm air will be detrimental to the dangerous travel conditions that will set up later on in the evening. The storm system will begin as rain for 2 to 3 hours at best and rapidly change over to snow. The rain will make the ground saturated and that layer of water will freeze rapidly. This is called a "flash freeze" and is one of the most dangerous setups for anyone traveling across the region.
BLOWING SNOW: After the layer of rain freezes, we will see snow falling on top of it and it will start to pile up across the area. The general problem with this polar vortex dropping into the region will be the dramatic differences in temperature and that will add to the increased wind potential. All of this combined, we will see blowing snow. The blowing snow will cause reduced visibility and snow drifts. Snow totals will range from 2 to 6 inches across the area with the highest totals in the higher elevations and on the northwest facing slopes.
ARCTIC/POLAR AIR: The air that we will be experiencing doesn't normally come this far south. There's an area of high pressure across Greenland that is blocking the cold air from *normally* circling the North Pole. Since it is a very strong area of high pressure, it's driving the Siberian cold down across the lower 48 and that will park right over the Ohio River Valley. This air won't moderate or leave the area until later in the day Wednesday/Thursday.
100 YEAR RECORD: The forecasted lows will break the record in Beckley of -4 which has stood for 102 years on Tuesday. The records in Huntington of -2 and Charleston of -3 have stood for 64 years and are expected to be broken as well.
WIND CHILL: Monday night through Tuesday morning we will experience some of the worst wind chill readings that we've seen in nearly 5 years. Wind chills across the Kanawha and Ohio River Valley can be expected around -20 degrees. Some of the lowest wind chill values are forecasted at our highest elevation points and Snowshoe is expected to see -40!
DEADLY TO ALL: The temperatures in the sub-zero range, combined with the winds will make for a deadly combination. People need to be checked on regularly, especially your elderly neighbors and children do not need to be outside for an extended period of time..if at all. All skin needs to be covered because exposed areas can be subject to hypothermia and frost bite. Pets and livestock will be very vulnerable to the elements because these are not temperatures normally experienced by animals in this region. Livestock will need to be regularly checked and brought into barns if possible. Dogs and cats will need to be moved inside.
The San Francisco/Green Bay game Sunday could become the coldest game ever. Brutal on both teams...whoever wins will pay a physical price from playing in that cold.
Damn that global warming.
The San Francisco/Green Bay game Sunday could become the coldest game ever. Brutal on both teams...whoever wins will pay a physical price from playing in that cold.
The forecast here is for -2 on Tuesday ... for the high temperature.
It's been worse. I remember standing at a bus stop one morning in Pittsburgh in January 1994 when the temperature (not the wind chill) was -23.
Complement to original post:
Headline:
Details show this cold front will affect more than just those 3 states but that's how the headline reads.
http://www.wowktv.com/story/24355943/record-breaking-polar-air-will-impact-ohio-valley
This will directly impact a number of our good friends on here. I wish them well and they will be in my prayers.
I had to go out today, and was getting ready to leave when my son showed up. He gave me hell for going out, and drove me to where I had to go. He then took me to lunch. My car is in the garage, so I didn't think the cold would bother me. He said a couple deep breaths of that frigid air could cause damage. I imagine the football players sucked in a lot of even colder air, and hope they all are OK.
Make sure you stay inside Monday and Tuesday, happy!
I have an appointment Monday, but will most likely cancel it.
Horse hockey. Football is supposed to be played in that kind of weather. It used to be called "separating the men from the boys", only today we do that with a crowbar......
:beer:
No it's not. It's foolish, stupid, and dangerous to expose human beings to that kind of cold for three hours.
And the game won't be much to see. Lots of mistakes. The winner will be lucky.
I dread this. It's 15o outside right now and I'm freezing to death. It's supposed to get down to -4 on Monday night. I know some of you are enduring much much worse - but we're not used to that kind of cold here. Praying for everyone to be able to stay inside and their pets too.
888catbed
Pets are a very real concern in these cold temps. People need to be very careful.
The cats wanted out. I got tired of Niall's meowing, so I dug a 4' clearing outside the patio doors, and let them have at it. They were back in almost as fast as I closed the door.
Blowsy snow and very cold here last night and my dog Soxy was nowhere to be found. I went out several times through the night to call for him, but gave up when I saw no dog tracks to his doghouse where he loves to sleep in the cedar shavings we piled in there for him. This morning I woke up to find him sitting in the driveway looking bored. He was fine and still wouldn't come in.
Tonight when I got home, as usual, he saw me about a half mile from the house and "escorted" me home. He was running fast and then when I pulled in the driveway he was just running around the yard like crazy - back and forth - just having a big old time! About an hour later, I went out & he emerged from his house all stretchy and sleepy. He came right in tonight - sleeping on his blanket on the couch now.
I can always foretell the weather by watching Soxy. He knows.
~LOL~ my two wimpy girls who can get on the bed have been sleeping as close as they can and we are only dropping down in the low 40's at night. Daisy has on "jammies" and sleeps in her bed with a nice comfy blanket. She's been burrowing down into her blanket just as snug as can be....
I love watching my pets sleep - just want to crawl in there with them. I have three cats on my lap right now, the three tabbies. Makes it kind of tricky to type on the keyboard, but they are nice little furry heaters!
I enjoyed watching my two dogs sniffing their way around my big backyard today in a picture perfect 65 degree day in Vegas. I really thought how lucky they were to be able to do that on January 3rd when so much of the country is beginning to experience the Hellish cold. If dogs could have a thankful journal, I'd have made them write something in it!
65 degrees....you lucky dog!
It was 73 here today. Gorgeous, no wind, the sun felt great!
Yes, completely calm, no wind. I know how lucky we are here after 50 years in Washington (state). Chamber of Commerce day throughout the southwest today.
I scraped ice off my windshield today and my husband's car doors were frozen shut!
8888crybaby
Around 10 years ago, we had a bad ice storm. All the car doors and windows were frozen tight. I had a 1991 Red Taurus then, and did everything I could think of to get my car door open. I even carried a spray can of stuff that thaws ice. After freezing my butt off, I decided to call for help. While on my phone, I noticed a red Taurus in front of me. I had been trying to get in the wrong car! Someone was very grateful when they got to their car, and it was already de-iced!
:silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly: :silly:
The San Francisco/Green Bay game Sunday could become the coldest game ever. Brutal on both teams...whoever wins will pay a physical price from playing in that cold.
Call me a wimp but I believe they should cancel that game and move it elsewhere. Too dangerous for the players.
LOL! This from a girl in Arizona! :laugh: