Friday, January 16, 2009

Congratulations! You Have Survived the Great Arctic Outbreak of 2009

We don't have the all clear yet with dangerously cold temperatures continuing through mid-afternoon but I can say THE WORST IS OVER! The actual air pressure outside right now is 30.77 inches as of 10 a.m. and this speaks volumes as to what is happening. This is one of the strongest high pressure systems Lafayette has seen in years and it helped to bring us our coldest temperatures since the 1990s over the past couple of days. I understand people woke up not believing what their thermometers were reading. Well you can believe it! There was nothing wrong with your thermometers and our weather team was proud because we were the only ones showing possible lows in the -20s for our viewing area. It has something to do with paying close attention to the people instead of the models! I appreciate all our weather watchers and weather bloggers that helped to keep us ahead of this historic cold outbreak! So here are the numbers you have been waiting for:

Record Lows:

-23 Rensselaer
-23 Francesville
-23 Logansport
-22 Attica
-22 Rochester
-21 Winamac
-21 Southside of Lafayette
-20 Fowler
-20 Idaville

Other incredible lows of note:
-19 Purdue Airport


North Pole, Alaska: 39 degrees above zero
Typical temp. of meat locker: 36
Avg. Temperature of household freezer: 0

That is right we were 60 degrees colder than
parts of Alaska this morning and about 20 degrees
colder than our freezers. This gives new meaning to
nature putting us in a deep freeze!


The old record low for our area was -20 set back in 1972 at the Purdue Airport. So while officially we did not break the record at that location this morning it is still safe to say that we still shattered dozens of records across the viewing area, including Tippecanoe County. The days of using the airports as the official measuring stick of how extreme the weather actually is are indeed over thanks to extensive weather watcher networks and great bloggers like you. This is why you have to be very careful when looking at so-called official weather data at only airports when trying to determine climate trends. It simply does not work.

Stay warm and get ready for above zero weather coming our way this afternoon and temperatures up to 50 degrees warmer by later Saturday. But there is a catch! There always is with Indiana weather. I will be back to talk more about this and how the Arctic Outbreak 2009 stacked up to our other arctic outbreaks. Meteorologist Stepanie Davis and I again thank you for all your help! This time I really am serious about printing up some T-shirts saying how we survived this cold air outbreak. Send in some ideas and let's all follow through on it! Word out of Illinois is that they did set an all-time record low yesterday in Rochelle at -37! Simply amazing! Here at home we did not get close to our state record low of -36 set in New Whiteland, but it felt every bit as cold! Now back to my kids. They are out of school for their second consecutive day! My hats off to TSC and other schools for putting safety first! Its time to head to the gym!


35 comments:

jen said...

So now that we've survived the Great Artic Outbreak, are we gonna get any more accumulating snow anytime soon?

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike I just check out and my low last night was -12.8* degrees below zero!

When the T-Shirts get done I want one! ;-)

Have a safe warm day fellow bloggers!

And remember the weekend is coming something we all can look forward to! (((A Slight Warm Up))) ;)

Justin in Lafayette

Anonymous said...

What a night!!!! The water line to my washer is located in a six inch crawl space, and it freezes when the temps. are below zero. However, I placed a heater near the lines yesterday morning, and I kept running a small amount of water in the washer all day yesterday, and on an hourly schedule during Thursday night. All attempts proved to be futile, when the lines froze between four and five this morning. I really thought I had won the battle with Mother nature this time, but the temps were just too extreme.....

F/C

Anonymous said...

I got up every 20 minutes all night long to check temps...then finally went to sleep at 9 this morning!!

We bottomed out at -17 in Tipton...

Chris

Anonymous said...

We bottomed out at -18* at my wx station in Remington. it just now went above zero!

MA in REM

Anonymous said...

Hey mike along with the T-shirts saying how we survived this cold air outbreak of 2009!

We should also have some WLFI Bloggers T-shirts!

Current temperature is get this! 12.7* degrees above zero! WOW it is HOT outside! lol! ;-)

Justin in lafayette

Anonymous said...

Oh goodness, about the frozen water lines, I feel for you!

I have been talking with friends who are having the same problem.

I have a temp of 7.8* yes Justin it seems warm LOL!

Teri in Laf...

Anonymous said...

Thanks Teri.....It is still negative 3.9 degrees in Rochester. I am still waiting to hit the zero mark!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Hey Justin, My weather station showed a low of -14.9 at 8:15 this morning:( However I have mine placed on the north side of my house...:)


Teri

Anonymous said...

Question to those in the know. What is the criteria for thermometer type and its location so temperatures can be accurately compared.
Thank You

Anonymous said...

I have always been told to place the thermometer 5 ft above the ground. I have a digital thermometer that can record high and low temperatures.

Chris in Tipton

Anonymous said...

Ideally, weather sensors should be sited out in the open and away from objects that may affect measurement accuracy. Depending on your situation, features such as landscaping and/or building structures can significantly impact the location where your sensors can be sited. Of course cable length (cabled weather stations) or transmitter range (wireless weather stations) will also limit the locations available for placing weather sensors.

A major factor affecting placement of wireless weather sensors is their transmission range, the maximum distance between the console receiver and remote transmitting sensor. Manufacturers base this rating upon "open air," meaning a line of sight path with no obstructions (walls, etc.) between components. Of course the signal will have to penetrate building materials in most installations, so to estimate the maximum "effective" range between those components the rule of thumb is 1/3 to 1/2 of the open air rating. As an example, if a system has a open air transmission range of 330 feet, the estimated maximum effective range is 110 to 150 feet between outdoor sensor and indoor console.

The optimum placement for each type of sensor is different. Thermometers and hygrometers should be installed from four to six feet above the ground in a shaded location (not under trees!). If the thermometer hygrometer is placed on a building, select a location below the eaves on a north facing wall, which will provide shade and some shelter from rain. Rain gauges should be sited out in the open and relatively close to the ground (two feet above is optimal), then leveled. This placement makes it convenient to clean the rain gage should it become obstructed by debris. Anemometers should be sited in a location where the wind flows freely (such as roof mount) and oriented to true north as instructed by the manufacturer. The standard height of an anemometer is 10 meters (33 feet) above ground. Given the difference in siting recommendations between anemometers and rain gauges, mounting them together should be avoided.

Anonymous said...

We just studied the correct placement of a thermometer in our science class. According to our science book, it should never be placed in direct sunlight and it should be placed in grassy area, never hung over asphalt.

F/C

Anonymous said...

Oh I forgot to sign..I was wondering the same...I looked up the info on line...

Teri

Anonymous said...

Thank you everyone for the info on thermometer type and placement. Great feedback. This is what makes this a great weather blog.

Anonymous said...

Well DUH! I forgot to mention that my thermometer is in my yard...inside of a weatherproof box...so that it doesn't read 120 degrees on a nice May afternoon...

Chris in Tipton

Anonymous said...

why is the airport not accurate for climate data. Nothing is changing and the sensors are calibrated and placed correctly. The same can not be said for home weather stations. You need to campare data at a set location. There is no need to compare purdue airport to other places in the county nor are there accurate records for these other towns.

Anonymous said...

where can the records be found for Rensselaer, Attica and so on. How do we know that back in 1972 these places were not colder than purdue airport therefore this year it might not be a record.

Anonymous said...

We just surpassed 0.0 degrees in Rochester. Yippeeee!!!!!

F/C

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike it is a Happy birthday for my friend Joy in Baton Rouge LA, today! The one who send in the pictures of there 4 inch snow in December!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOY!

Justin.

Anonymous said...

Takes only one dork to ruin the blog.... Regarding the questions correct placement of a thermometer..Ya know, there are many who are not weather geeks, and want to know this info!

Anonymous said...

I think the point about the airports is: the airports, like at Indianapolis...are consistant, but not accurate for a wide forecast area like what we have here. IE- During the 1978 Blizzard...the airport at Indianapolis recorded 15.0 inches..while areas to the north recorded double that, and more.

Temperatures are sometimes off compared to the rest of the area.

If I am not mistaken...the NWS INDY is not at the airport any longer. Could the move, even a slight move of instruments... cause a change in observations/data? I think that we agree that in order for record keeping to take place, you have to have a central spot for recording data. In this era of bloggers, at home weather fanatics...etc. you can get a more accurate read for what is going on.

I calabrate my home thermometer once a month. It isn't hard to do at all.

Chris in Tipton

Anonymous said...

Wow it was so cold this morning I though my butt cheeks froze. Oh my, my, my. Well let's pray our good ole Jesus will bring some warm weather I've been praying.

Anonymous said...

Is this Lani Worthington? If not, Lani Worth, you are appricated sooo much!!!!

Anonymous said...

Pretty Sunset here tonight, and oh so cold!

We have not been able to get the house up over 68 degrees...Which feels freezing for some reason. And, there is ice on the inside of our brand new windows!

So...friends...what is the snow looking like tomorrow and Sunday? We have trips to Indy both days.

Annie in Attica

Anonymous said...

No it's Lany =)

Anonymous said...

Snow showers....an inch - maybe!??

Chris in Tipton

Anonymous said...

Oh no, to Annie,
There should not be ice on the inside of brand new windows!! Call who ever installed them and report a bad job! They should fix!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Mike stated on the News cast that there could be blowing snow in our area..

This may sound odd, but I was digging in my freezer, looking for somthing to fix for dinner, the freezer did not feel cold.. I mean the food is well frozen.. didnt seem cold after just coming in from outside!!! that is freaky! WOW!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Here we go again...at least for a little while.... I am at -4

Chris in Tipton

Anonymous said...

Holly Cow I just looked at my thermometer and it is -10 at Idaville

Bob at Idaville

Anonymous said...

And I am holding at -6* here in Remington. it has been holding there which is good news. Last night it was dropping every time I looked at it! I have a desktop monitor for my rooftop wx station. I am sure that is why my temp was low. the window indoor/outdoor ( which is mounted on the north side of the house 5 feet off the ground) registered 5* higher than the wx station on the roof.

yep, if the wind blows that snow is gonna blow!

MA in REM

MA in REM

Anonymous said...

So...for all those global warming nuts..I mean global climate change,or whatever you want to call it this month..HAHA!!
You climate change people just can't get it through your head,this is called cycles.
It happens!

Anonymous said...

I still have a temperature of 0.7* degrees which it has been holding there for some time now! I will have my low posted here tomorrow!

Have a great night bloggers! And the weekend is looking good! Make it a great one!

Justin in Lafayette.

Anonymous said...

Teri I just seen your doggies on the 11:pm news (((How CUTE!))) They really look warm! :-)

Justin.