Posted on 01/24/2014 1:15:20 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
January could end up with as many sub-zero days as Pittsburgh region had in past decade combined
The mercury hasn't hit bottom yet.
January ranks as one of the most bitingly cold months Western Pennsylvanians can remember, though certainly not a record. A cold snap early in the month made the temperature plummet to 9 below zero near Pittsburgh International Airport with a wind chill that felt like 30 below.
State College-based AccuWeather predicts a low of 10 below zero on Tuesday as part of the latest bone-chilling cold spell, one that will extend through at least Jan. 31.
“We've been selling a lot of winter tires. People who have decided to try and wait to see how the winter goes, I think finally pulled the trigger,” said Nick Lenhart, manager of Lenhart's Service Center in North Huntingdon. “They realized it's not just going to be a one and done.”
The extended severe cold is a chilling prospect that could endanger seniors, strain utilities and put businesses and schools farther behind schedule.
“Seniors can be more vulnerable” to problems from the cold, said Darlene Burlazzi, deputy administrator of the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging.
The agency serves about 4,500 people in the county, about one-third of whom are monitored through a program for homebound seniors. The agency is replenishing the “snowy weather boxes” it provides the seniors, which include nonperishable food, a flashlight and batteries and slippers, Burlazzi said.
Marc Cherna, Allegheny County's human services director, encouraged people to check on elderly neighbors to ensure they have a list of emergency telephone numbers handy and that their furnace is working and their sidewalks and steps are clear.
The weather has cut operations and attendance at Lutheran Service Society's five senior centers in Westmoreland County.
“We've had to cancel a couple days because of the weather, which is not good,” said Katy Lowstetter, program manager in Westmoreland County.
January could end up with as many days of sub-zero temperatures — seven — as the region had in the past decade combined, according to National Weather Service data and forecasts.
January had three sub-zero days through Thursday, including lows of 9 below on Jan. 7, 7 below on Jan. 6 and 5 below on Wednesday. The low temperature could dip below zero on four of the next eight days. The forecasted low on Tuesday of 10 below would equal the coldest temperature in a decade, National Weather Service records show.
The balmiest day on the horizon? Saturday, when the temperature is expected to soar to 27 degrees. There's also a 90 percent chance of snow, with up to 4 inches possible, according to forecasts.
“Anyone who doesn't dress well for the weather will be at risk for hypothermia and effects from the cold,” including wind burn, frostbite and dehydration, said Khlood Salman, an associate professor of nursing at Duquesne University who specializes in public health.
At Abigail's Coffeehouse, a coffee shop and café on the Diamond in Ligonier Borough, business has slowed about 30 to 40 percent during the recent cold weather, according to owner Dianne Stewart. “People aren't going out because of the roads and cold temperatures,” she said.
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher said the cold should boost demand for electricity and natural gas, but the commission doesn't anticipate problems.
Allegheny County Emergency Services Chief Alvin Henderson Jr. is concerned that up-and-down temperatures could wreak new havoc on water lines and other pipes such as those that popped during January's first big cold punch.
“During the first cold snap, the temperature went down and it stayed there for a few days before going back up. What concerns me moving into next week is that temperatures dipping and coming up and dipping again will stress water lines,” Henderson said.
Pennsylvania Department of Education spokesman Tim Eller said districts don't formally report delays or cancellations to the department, but both appear to be up this year — in large part because of the cold. That doesn't mean school years will be extended into June yet, Eller said, noting districts typically include three to five “weather” days in their calendars.
School officials said they are taking the next week a day at a time. Sometimes decisions whether to cancel or delay school are made on a minute-by-minute basis. Pittsburgh Public Schools spokeswoman Ebony Pugh said the district canceled school twice during the first cold snap.
Norwin School District builds four or five “snow days” into the school calendar each year. So far, Norwin has canceled school twice and delayed the start of classes three times in January because of wintry conditions, spokesman Jonathan Szish said.
Doesn’t the Bible mention that we should hope that the Tribulation does not start in the winter? I am in Ky. and stopped by the local Tractor Supply for some of the chemical hand and feet warmers, have never used them before so don’t remember what they are called, anyway they were out.
Our temp here is presently 2 above not counting the wind chill. Only reason I am looking for these things is I am older now and my authorrightis is kicking my a55.
Not too worried, have lived thru a lot worst stuff in the past and will survive this also, God willing. Stay warm folks.
Al Bore is deeply saddened.
Stay warm.
Hopefully most are prepared.
The global warming preachers have duped people into complacency and that is very dangerous.
We need more energy output dammit. Get those windmills going and shovel the snow off the solar panels.
I wonder when the rush to convert carbon credits to bitcoin will begin.
“I wonder when the rush to convert carbon credits to bitcoin will begin.”
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I liken the bitcoin phenomena to Tulip mania.
Because of the thermal lag built into the hydrosphere and atmosphere of this planet, and the tilt of its axis from squarely vertical, the last two weeks of January and the first two weeks of February are the coldest of the year in the Northern hemisphere. That is a given every year.
As the day lengthens and a greater portion of the Northern hemisphere gets warmed by solar radiation, the intensity of the cold recedes, until by about the last week or so of August and into early September, the average daily temperatures reach the maximum average for the year. But for the effects of the atmosphere and the surface waters, the temperatures would be at a minimum on the winter solstice and at the maximum at the summer solstice.
But for some, that natural cycle shall remain forever a mystery which they cannot grasp.
Was thinkin’ of you guys yesterday ... it was -2 when I woke up, but it’ll be warmer for the next two weeks .... won’t go below 0 .... so they say.
“Was thinkin’ of you guys yesterday”
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A FReeperfest at my beach garden is in the works to happen soon. btw, 80f is quite cool here ;)
Oh, they are doing their best! (sort of)
On some of the recent abominable mornings having both extreme cold and blowing snow travel advisories, what do I see out there adding to the fun on the highway? Semis hauling sections on windmill pylons. Hopefully nobody is actually out there bolting together windmills in 25 MPH winds at -7 Fahrenheit, but if they are, then they have "glands" of (really cold) steel.
In general, this has been an unpleasant winter by most standards, being a combination of persistent cold, frequent precip - in varying forms - and enough wind to give sharp teeth to the mix. SAD has shown up early, and the natives are grumbling apace.
Mr. niteowl77
Now where did I put those things?
Polar Vortex hits the deep south! ...Leaving citizens dazed and confused.
As Michael Berry says, “Wrap your pipes!”
:)
Meanwhile, in Alabama, chickens are perishing because of the propane shortage
is a balmy 3 outside at 930 AM.....Pittsburgh is doing a Stalingrad Impression. Half expect to see Panzers frozen on my street.
Next week one day will have a high of 7 and will drop to minus 9. Will it ever end?
Yep .... in July.
“...btw, 80f is quite cool here ;)”
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As a lifelong resident of South Carolina I don’t think I would smile about a place where 80 is cool. I like fifty degrees and sunny a lot better than I like 80 and above.
I hope this winter is not a taste of things to come here because right now it is much colder than I really like but I have always said that the finest thing about being in Carolina in the morning is to be here in Fall, Winter and Spring, the summers are not so much fun unless you live at Myrtle Beach. Of course this winter is not so great either, this is the first time I have had to repair frozen pipes.
Took the dog out for it's morning {super quick} walk {dump and run} and it took me longer to dress than I was outside.
Longjohns, jeans and hunting pants, hunting boots that are good to -20, five layers and my "Chiller Killer" hunting coat, along with face coverings and great gloves, I was warm.
The dog was doubled layered with boots but sub-zero temperatures chase you indoors rather quickly.
Without wind, it's OK but if the wind kicks up to 10-15 mph, get inside if you can.
The wind - hate the wind.
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