Global Warming Update:

Jan. 23, 2013

Forecasters: Brutal, dangerous cold grips Northeast

Washington, D.C., is experiencing what could be its coldest stretch in almost 10 years, a meteorologist said, as dangerously cold weather and snow continued to hit much of the Northeast and Great Lakes area Wednesday.

In the D.C. area Wednesday morning, temperatures were expected to be between 10 and 17 degrees with below-zero wind chills possible in places, according to NBCWashington.com.

And in the Tri-State area, which has already seen some heavy snowfalls, the coldest weather in two years was arriving, NBCNewYork.com reported.

It added that forecasters were expecting brutal wind chills that could make it feel like minus 25 degrees.


Weather.com said lake-effect snow had been record-breaking at times and warned more was on the way.

Much of the East Coast was experiencing low temperatures. The National Weather Service issued freeze warnings for Wednesday morning for as far south as Florida.

Weather.com said there had already been some “impressive” snowfalls.



Erie, Pa., saw 16.3 inches of snow fall at the airport on Monday – the snowiest day there since Nov. 29, 1979, and the snowiest January day on record. Other parts of the city saw up to 24 inches.

In New York state, Oswego County got up to 18 inches of snow Sunday through Monday morning, while 19 inches fell in Pulaski in the 24 hours to 9 a.m. Tuesday and Ripley got 24.8 inches over the two days to Tuesday morning.

And parts of Michigan saw 10 inches of snow in the 48 hours ending Tuesday morning.

Snow through Saturday

Weather.com said the lake-effect snow was not expected to wind down until Thursday and the band of cold weather affecting the Northeast could produce some snow affecting the I-95 corridor into Saturday.

Meteorologist Doug Kammerer warned to expect cold and breezy weather in D.C. Wednesday, but said it would not be quite as windy as Tuesday, NBCWashington.com reported.

The wind chill was likely to be 10 degrees or lower Wednesday morning, but below-zero wind chills were possible in some places, the station said. Overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning, a storm was forecast to pass quickly through the region, bringing some flurries or light snow shower early Thursday morning.

Temperatures were expected to remain below freezing Wednesday and Thursday, NBCWashington.com said. The high could break 32 degrees Friday, but the area might not rise above that mark until after the weekend.

The station said there was a good chance of up to an inch of snow Friday, with flurries possible Saturday.

The wind chill factor was driving temperatures even lower in the Tri-State areas, according to NBCNewYork.

It said temperatures were expected to fall into the lower single digits in places with wind chills potentially making it feel like minus 25 degrees Wednesday morning.

NBCNewYork.com noted this would “not get close” to record cold, which is below zero for this time of year.

Nevertheless, it noted meteorologists’ advice that the current freezing temperatures can be dangerous and advised people to cover their mouths to protect the lungs from cold air as well as wrapping up warmly.

NBCWashington.com, NBCNewYork.com and Weather.com contributed to this report.

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