Thursday, January 15, 2009

Coldest Day Since 1994 Gives Way to Coldest Night Since 1999


These numbers are just the tip of the iceberg from last night. That is right it is going to get even colder tonight. It will get worse before it gets better. This will be an arctic outbreak we will all remember! Officially in Lafayette we had a low of -10, Boswell -11, and Frankfort had a low of -13 degrees last night but with no clouds and lighter winds than last night most models are showing the Lafayette area being at least 5 degrees colder than last night.

Here is the latest....stay inside is my best advice. Willie the Chihuahua or Justin New's dog has got it right. In that little sweater he is wearing he
would still have frostbite in just a few minutes if he went outside in this. It is painful out there. It is actually colder than a typical household freezer that has an average temperature of zero degrees. This dangerous cold will not be moving out of the area until tomorrow afternoon and believe it or not we could be near 30 by Saturday or about 50 degrees warmer than tonight. The worst of this cold wave hits tonight as the core of the arctic air builds in with high pressure. Here are the latest forecast lows and that is right.....some -20s!!!

Officially the record low for Lafayette is -20 set back in 1972 and even though it looks like we will not be quite that cold here in Tippecanoe County. Areas to the north which had a little more snow yesterday should have no trouble getting into that record territory, especially from Newton and Jasper Counties off the east in northern White, Cass, and Miami Counties.

You see the visible satellite picture from this afternoon and it shows the snowpack clearly in the white. Usually this time of year the white would indicate clouds but it was clear outside and it certainly shows where the snow is and you can make out all the river valleys. Basically the more snow, the lower you go. So while Tippecanoe County averaged about 3.5" yesterday, areas to the north were closer to 5" and this would mean even colder temperatures tonight. Snow is very effective at radiating heat away and with lighter winds moving in with clear skies and high pressure it all adds up to more trouble for us.
Check out the picture from today. You can tell this air mass if from the arctic. It is cold, dry, and very heavy so the air has trouble getting much lift. That is why there was not a cloud in the sky today. In fact on average many areas near the North Pole are like deserts with less than 10 inches of snow due to the fact they have these big high pressure areas that are formed in the very cold air like we are seeing here at home. Here are more cold hard facts that include today's daytime temperatures that stayed sub-zero and it looks like they will not go above zero until Friday afternoon at the earliest.
Gene and Charlotte in Monon actually lost power for about an hour. This is frightening. I am glad the power is restored. Stay safe and make sure to tune in tonight at 11 p.m. for latest on the arctic outbreak from where you live. Keep posting temperatures here on the blog if you can. The more the better. I will keep checking them. Our models have trouble many times dealing with a huge arctic outbreak like this so we had better use all the humans we can. You are my eyes and ears! Stay warm.

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Mike

Brrr 7:55 pm in Idaville Temp -11

BOB

Anonymous said...

Brr is right! -8.7* where I am located.

Teri in Laf

Anonymous said...

I hope the one who makes the call to close the schools for LSC will listen to Mike! Come on! -9!!!

Anonymous said...

As a parent if I want to keep my kids home because of nasty weather, I do. Why worry about whether there will be a delay or even a closing. It your kids safety if you feel they need to stay home then keep them there. I had already decided on Wednesday that if it got as cold as they said it would my kids would not be going.

Anonymous said...

Hey Justin, Willie looks so cute!

My dogs are big, I put my t-shirts on them:)they dont mind one bit! Now my socks and the baggies over their feet, didnt go over to well, But it did keep them from limping around the yard while looking for a place to go.

Temp is now -9.3

Teri in Laf

Anonymous said...

Tipton -10 as of 9:15

Chris in Tipton

Anonymous said...

Thanks Teri! He was nice and cozy!

Mike I have a current temperature of -9.6* degrees as of 9:57pm!

Justin.

Anonymous said...

I was out trying to get my car started..I did not cover my face, and ended up with a bloody nose..too dry and cold! I give up till morning! -9.9 lafayette

Anonymous said...

all i know i just took the garbage out to the curb and i dont think i have ever been colder..... this cold can go to the birds but i dont think they want it either. i will say the i loved the snow part. it was great and so happy to be out of the ice but a little warmer would be nice.. litterly i was out side for all of about 2 min and my legs and hands are burning. my legs feel like they are on fire. and it is so cold that it takes your breath away.. i hope the garbage men come tomorrow..

Nathan W. Baker said...

As of 10:15pm, the temperature was -17.6 F in Rochester (Fulton Co.) according to my DavisPro. The temperature has fallen 11 degrees in four hours.

Anonymous said...

-16 in Logansport at 10:15pm and dropping.

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone, its Becky from Monticello. i didnt go out on my paper route at 2 am like usuall. i went out at 5, and believe me it was still plenty cold. I am going to do the same tomorrow as well if the customers are unhappy about it i guess they can go to the gas station and buy a paper, i love the snow but not the bitter temps. I hate to think about the elderly, homless and the animals on conditions like this, take care everyone i hear next week 32 degrees yahoo Heatwave,,,,, Hi Rs, did you go out late ??

Anonymous said...

Aww Becky I really feel sorry for you, and anyone else getting out that early, to go to work. Do you ride alone? That is scary if you dont take anyone with you. Hopefully you have a cell phone.

Justin, your Willie is cute!!

To the poster whow gave me kudos for adopting our Charlie..we knew we would rescue an animal. Charlie was made for us. he is just what the doctor ordered. If you have been watching WLFI for awhile i used to send in pics of our Schnauzer, Maggie. We had to put her down in June. Charlie has been a Godsend.

Temp is at -12* here in Remington!

MA in REM

Anonymous said...

Talking about birds I just remembered that when I was out earlier around 4:pm or 5:pm and I looked up at the sky and there was a whole bunch of geese flying over head!

I could not believe it!

Justin.

Anonymous said...

Not to forget they where flying from north to south! But I think it is a little late! ;-)

Justin.

Anonymous said...

Rediciouls -10 in Laf and still dropping and LCS thinks it will be warm enough by 10:00 am for school buses and kids to walk????

I went out side and my body stings, the cold went though my jeans, and warm coat. Legs are almost burning! Just a couple of mins I was out!

Most Kids wont wear long johns! And I dont think those would help much with these temps! Seems like West Laf. Laf. stick together!

Anonymous said...

Hi Ma, thanks for the warm wishes. we too adopted a 8 month old puppy from a shelter in Lafayette last month,you know this may sound crazy, but i dont mind doing the route, because for one main thing it allows me to stay at home and babysett for my grandkids next door. But i have found it is easier on me if i stay up till the route and go to bed afterwards because of th shock of getting out of a warm bed is so much harder on me.plus i do my better sleeping after the route because iam always waking up and checking the alarm clock, but iam gonna force myself to go to bed after the weather report,, thanks again, yes i do take my cell phone, and i do have a neighbor lady that goes with me and she rolls up the papers for me, and i bag them , Becky

Anonymous said...

ps does anyone know something that is good for arthritis, i have it in my right knee, and it is killing me, is it because of the cold,, thanks,,, Becky

Anonymous said...

As of 11pm it has dropped to -20 in Logansport!!!

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike as of 11:07PM My temperature is at -10.1* Degrees below zero!

Justin in Lafayette.

Anonymous said...

besides antiinflam meds like ibuprofen or aleve, moist heat seems to help arthritis. Needs to be moist...i have arthritis in my right knee and these take to edge off...i'm stiff today too...


superatc

Anonymous said...

Thank you superatc, my fingers have been alittle stiff as well, iam a paer carrier and walking up some of my saidewalks and steps have been tough,, Becky

Anonymous said...

Becky
We went ahead and delivered the papers at 2am. Thank goodness that most of it is a motor route. tonight we will probably go at 2am.
Be careful tonight on your route. i'm glad the you have someone going with you.
Justin there was a bunch of geese flying south at 2am too.

Anonymous said...

Becky I am glad you have someone go along! You both take care, I know you will be careful.


MA in REM

Anonymous said...

My knees hurt me too! I wear one of those streachy knee supports you can get at drug stores. they keep the knee supported as well as warm! Help along with the meds by the other poster

Anonymous said...

Becky talk to you tomorrow. Have you talked to J today? I haven't heard from him. RS

Anonymous said...

Rs, no havent talked to j, but did you hear on the news our parent company Gannett is making management take off 5 unpaid days off before March, something huh ?? heard that on the news last night,, Becky thanks guys for the info.

Anonymous said...

No, i didn't here that.
It makes you wonder about our routes 2. I hope they don't cut the days they print the paper. RS

Anonymous said...

Here in Lafayette it is -10.3* degrees below zero.

I Will chtch up with you all again later on tomorrow or should I say today for it is 12:40 am! :-p

Mike Thanks for posting my picture! And I seem my Icicles on your news cast tonight as well! Cool!

Night all!

Justin in Lafayette.

Anonymous said...

Hello...my name is Ronald, I was wondering Justin what you thought of our snow chances on Monday?

Anonymous said...

WOW it is cold

-Rasputin

Anonymous said...

I finally brought my trusty Thermometer in after taking a final reading of -22 here in Logansport at 1:30am. Stepping outside was unreal. It is very hard to catch a good breath, and I wonder how much wildlife will succumb to this extreme weather event tonight. I applaud all the school districts with enough wit to cancel classes for tommorrow, specifically Southeastern Schools here in Cass County. Any others that are open(even with a 2 hr delay), please parents bundle your children up and/or drive them to their bus stop or directly to school as I wouldn't trust my two boys to stand in this for more than a couple of minutes without serious complications. Those that remember 1994 should remember that event(-26 in Kokomo/Russiaville/Peru Jan 15,1994) and heed all the warnings about staying home or properly preparing if you have to venture out. On a lighter note, I tried the hot water trick for my kids, and they were left speechless as the vapors drifted away. Nothing like driving the point home I say. Stay safe, warm, and good night, Jay

Anonymous said...

_-11.7 in Lafayette!

Anonymous said...

at about 4am friday i passed the bank sign near the station and it read -17!!!! yikes!!!!!

stay warm all!!

j

Anonymous said...

WOW -19.6 at 6AM in Idaville

Bob in Idaville

Anonymous said...

At 7am I have a temp of minus 20 on the hill here in western Benton County ! Can that be right ?

Anonymous said...

This is a true wx geek! I could not wait to get up this morning to SEE how cold it really got! Wasn't disappointed, LOL...wow...my wx station says -18* which will prob go to -19* as the sun comes up, BUT my WeatherBug site at Rensselaer Middle School says -22.5*!!

Stay warm all!

MA in REM

Anonymous said...

Benton County it is definitely right!

Anonymous said...

At 8:15 this morn, I have a temp of -14.9 I have to look twice, for I did not see the negitive in front of the temp.!

WOW!

Teri in Laf

Anonymous said...

What a welcome sight!!!! The sun is appearing in the sky. At this time, the radio station just announced that it is -22 degrees in Rochester. The local cable channel is showing a temp. of -17.2 degrees. Either one of those temps. is just plain cold.

I live in an older home, and even with the furnace running constantly, it was never warm last night.

I am a teacher, and my classes have been working on negative integers. What perfect timing for all these negative temperatures.

Anonymous said...

Does anyone have a wind chill temp to report?? I dont have one! Just wonder with these actual temps!

Anonymous said...

Walking to class today at Purdue at 7:30am, the temperature was -15 degrees.

I'm from the Philadelphia area and it has never been this cold there(at least I don't think so). I've never been colder in my life!

Alexander

Anonymous said...

The lowest wind chill that I saw reported in Rochester was -36.9 degrees, and it was just reported.

Anonymous said...

If you dont mind me asking where do you get your wind chill reports from?

Anonymous said...

I obtain my wind chill and other data from our local cable channel in Rochester. I believe the data is obtained from a central location, i.e the phone company's service center. It updates about every two-three minutes with the latest data.

F/C

Anonymous said...

The sun is up and is a welcomed sight! I just opend the blinds, and the warmth of the sun feels wonderful! Thank goodness for solar heat!

I too live in a older house, I keep my thermalstat set at 68 degrees, however when I woke this am it was only 64 degrees in the house...!! The sun has warmed it up to 70. Temp is -8

Snow eater in tipp co

Anonymous said...

I thought we were done with this stuff, just issued!

Issued by The National Weather Service
Indianapolis, IN
10:24 am EST, Fri., Jan. 16, 2009

... WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON... ... WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN INDIANAPOLIS HAS ISSUED A WIND CHILL ADVISORY... WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING. A WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON.

WIND CHILL READINGS IN THE 20 TO 30 BELOW ZERO RANGE ARE EXPECTED FOR THE REST OF THE LATE MORNING HOURS. BY AFTERNOON... MODERATING TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN WIND CHILL READINGS IN THE 10 TO 20 BELOW ZERO RANGE.

A WIND CHILL ADVISORY MEANS THAT VERY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL COMBINE TO GENERATE LOW WIND CHILLS. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. IF YOU MUST VENTURE OUTDOORS... MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.

Anonymous said...

It's so cold out there that my central heating cannot keep up with it since my windows and doors are drafty! I have the heat set on 71 and it's only 65 degrees in my house. Rather Chilly! I cannot wait for tomorrow and the more normal temps are back!

Anonymous said...

I dont know about you but I enjoy plays on words. I read several area newspapers (including the J&C) online each morning. This is a headline from the "Herald Journal" in Monticello:

"Area held frostage"

MA in REM

Anonymous said...

YAY! It just went above ZERO!!

MA in REM