Coldest weekend of the winter to grip Northeast; subzero temperatures
It's going to feel painfully cold to be outside — even for a few minutes in the northeastern United States this weekend.
With more Arctic air on the horizon for much of the Midwest and Northeast this weekend, concerns increase around the growing energy demand and the high heating costs throughout the winter.
It's been painfully cold to be outside this weekend in the Northeast, even if only for a few minutes. Furnaces, space heaters and electric baseboards and cable electric systems have been working overtime to keep up.
“The deep freeze has returned to the northeastern United States this weekend," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. "The combination of Arctic air and gusty winds could make it feel colder than any other point so far this winter for many in the region."
The blast of Arctic air is coming directly from the frozen tundra north of Hudson Bay, Canada, and will bring dangerous conditions and yet another surge in energy demands to over 100 million utility customers in the northeastern part of the nation.
The Arctic blast is one part of a long-running bout of temperatures falling well below the historical average.
"Heating bills for some people could run hundreds of dollars above the historical average during this intense 25-day cold wave,” Porter said.
"In many parts of the Northeast away from the coast, this prolonged stretch of cold is the most extreme in at least the last decade and, in some areas, the last two decades," AccuWeather Senior Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin said. "Many locations will end up with a streak of days below freezing that falls into the top 10 longest such streaks on record."
As the actual temperature plummets, so will the AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperature, and it will head well below zero.
RealFeel® Temperatures on Saturday and Sunday morning dipped to 10-20 degrees below zero in much of the Northeast, and in the coldest locations, such as over the ridges and along flat open land and lakeshore areas, RealFeel® Temperatures plummeted to 25-40 degrees below zero.
Extra care required this weekend
At this level, frostbite can set in quickly, and there is a high risk of hypothermia if not properly dressed. Those spending time outdoors, including skiers, boarders and snowmobilers, taking advantage of some of the best snow conditions in years, should use extreme caution.
Extra caution is advised when using space heaters and fireplaces. Experts urge people to position space heaters well away from combustible objects and avoid using an extension cord to reduce the risk of fire. Kerosene-based heaters should only be used with proper ventilation to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Fireplaces that have been idle for a while should have their flues inspected before use.
Ice buildup and harsh winds
Much of the landscape along the frigid air's route is snow covered and frozen, with the only large freshwater body without extensive ice being Lake Ontario. The extent of the ice has disrupted ferry service in some coastal metro areas and damaged fishing piers on some of the bays and along the Atlantic coast.
Ice coverage will increase this weekend.
As the center of the Arctic air, or high pressure, moves over the Northeast Sunday, winds are expected to ease. After a frigid start to the day, temperatures will remain well below zero across upstate New York and northern New England. Temperatures are expected to dip into the single digits as far south as southeastern Virginia early Sunday.
Warmer for this week
There is some good news for the Southeast as the core of this Arctic blast will focus up north. Florida should avoid a major freeze this time.
There is also some good news for all starting this week. Air originating from the Pacific Ocean will travel east across the nation during weeks two and three of February.
While this will bring a much-needed break from frigid conditions and it may feel warmer than it actually is, it can create problems due to thaw-and-freeze cycles, foggy episodes and storms that bring areas of freezing rain, sleet and wet snow.
The leading edge of the less-cold air will bring a batch of light snow and freezing drizzle from the Upper Midwest to parts of the West Virginia and Virginia mountains, closing out the weekend.
Looking further ahead, depending on how quickly temperatures rebound in the coming days and the amount of rain that may accompany higher temperatures, ice jams and flooding may result on area streams and rivers. It may take one of the more gradual thaws possible to prevent such problems, at least on a local basis.
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