Frigid stuff indeed...some perspective on the cold...

Posted January 23rd, 2013 by Bill Kardas. 38 comments

There's something about frigid weather that really gets people talking in Central New York.  Even though we didn't even come close to a record today (-25° was the number to beat set back in 1976), there was a HUGE response from our viewers when the call was made for temperatures.  Have a look:

 

Temperature Location
Inlet -21
Constableville -20
Morehouseville -18
Otter Lake -18
Woodgate -17
West Leyden -17
Thendara -16
Boonville -14
Gray Reservoir -14
Forestport -13
Fairfield -13
Stittville -12
Remsen -12
Steuben -12
East Winfield -11
Russia -11
Clark Mills -11
Westmoreland -10
Ohio -10
West Winfield -9
Dolgeville -9
Sherill -9
Griffiss (official) -9
Westdale -8
Glenmore -8
Cedarville -8
North Utica -8
Newport -8
Cassville -8
Morris -8
Schuyler Lake -8
Fort Plain -7
Becks Grove -7
Lake Delta -6
Ilion -6
Sauquoit -6
Litchfield -6
Marcy -5
Hartwick -5
Norwhich -5
Jordanville -5
Richfield Springs -4
Hamilton -4
New Hartford -4
South Utica -4
Salisbury -4
Whitesboro -3
Deansboro -2
Schenevus -2
Cooperstown -1
Verona 0
Herkimer 0
Laurens 0
Oneida 0
Oneonta 0
Sherburne 0
New Berlin 0
Little Falls 0
Lakeport 1
Milford 3



This sets a record for most reports we've had...more than 60.  I apologize in advance if I didn't get your number on the board.  Feel free to post in the comments section.

From a climate perspective, this is considered characteristic weather for our area.  That might be unpopular to point out, but the stats don't lie.  On average, 2 days each winter fall to -10 or less in the Utica/Rome area.  We have yet to hit these numbers all winter at the official measuring station in Griffiss.  (We will have to wait until later today for the 'official low temperature' to see if we fell below -9 in between 8-9am.)  The cold snap in store over the next few days is considered characteristic of CNY winter weather - most winters feature some kind of cold snap.  We've been spoiled from last winter and I think we quickly forget.   

When it gets this cold...

There are a few things you want to keep in mind when temperatures fall below zero.  First, salt is ineffective.  The snow last night has compacted into a slippery but hard surface on many area roadways.  The compaction of car tires along with salt and the sun typically melts snow on the roads.  This likely won't happen today with temperatures not likely to make it out of the single digits.  Second, wind chill is only valid if skin is exposed.  Cover as much skin as possible on days like today.  Layers, layers, layers.  Finally, be sure to be mindful of pets and the cold.  Just because Buddy has a fur coat doesn't mean he's immune to the bitter temperatures.  If you walk pets on the road, also keep in mind that the salt can dry out their paws.

How long does it last?

The bitterly cold temperatures will linger today, tonight, tomorrow, and tomorrow night.  By Friday, we finally climb back into the teens with light snow.  Temperatures will moderate into the 20s by Sunday, and possibly above freezing by early next week.  Like January thaws, this bitter stuff usually doesn't last, and it won't. 

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Comments

  1. sue (fairfield):

    weather station nuts thismorning….couldn’t make up it’s mind…..went down to -15 about 15 min ago….now back up to -13…..brrrrrrrrr

    Posted January 23rd at 8:35 AM

  2. Jeff H (Sherburne Hills):

    Sherburne report must have been in the village, we had -11 here at the house 4 miles north. Also got 1” of snow total from LES.

    Posted January 23rd at 9:15 AM

  3. Rob (Whitesboro):

    Low was -11 at my house. Still only -6 right now

    Posted January 23rd at 9:19 AM

  4. Lori (Bridgeport):

    Can Wktv please make a plea about getting and keeping your pets indoors ….My poor boys could even stand on 4 legs under 5 minutes outside …and I am above zero.!

    Posted January 23rd at 10:02 AM

  5. Rob (Whitesboro):

    We could go down to -20 tonight at this rate. Lake band develops though but it still looks to clear out.

    Posted January 23rd at 10:05 AM

  6. Rob (Whitesboro):

    Sunshine all morning and finally just hit zero degrees. Brutal airmass!

    Posted January 23rd at 11:36 AM

  7. Bill Kardas (WKTV):

    I throttled us back to -15 tonight in Utica, assuming we can stay clear for most of the night. MOS values are -7 and -8, but they were about 7 degrees too warm on this morning’s low. Figured someone could make a run to -25 up north.

    Posted January 23rd at 11:48 AM

  8. sue (fairfield):

    Rob, your lucky your at 0….i’m at -3

    Bill…..that would be one cold run : O

    Posted January 23rd at 11:56 AM

  9. WKTV Weather Alert:

    NWS has issued a Wind Chill Advisory for Northern Oneida & Otsego Counties until 11:00 AM

    Posted January 23rd at 3:25 PM

  10. sue (fairfield):

    reached a high of 2 at 3:24pm…..now back down…..-1

    Posted January 23rd at 5:34 PM

  11. Lori (Bridgeport):

    at -1 already myself…already colder than last night .. stay warm everyone !

    Posted January 23rd at 6:45 PM

  12. Tony-CNYWeather.com (Westmo):

    -8 here at 6:30. I’m thinking -15 is a safe bet for here.

    Posted January 23rd at 6:47 PM

  13. sue (fairfield):

    down to -5 here now…..definitely bundling up tonight

    Posted January 23rd at 6:50 PM

  14. Adam Musyt:

    Interesting read:

    Nuclear Power Plant Causes Snow in Pittsburgh

    Posted January 23rd at 8:51 PM

  15. Adam Musyt:

    Saranac Lake already down to -23 as of the 9:00 ob…

    Posted January 23rd at 9:11 PM

  16. matt (Cold Brook):

    This morming (1/23/13) we had minus 14.8. At9:30 pm we are already at minus 13.3 Brrrrr Cold Brook is cold

    Posted January 23rd at 9:38 PM

  17. matt (Cold Brook):

    This morming (1/23/13) we had minus 14.8. At9:30 pm we are already at minus 13.3 Brrrrr Cold Brook is cold

    Posted January 23rd at 9:38 PM

  18. sue (fairfield):

    was -15 a few min ago….now has gone back to -14…..big whooop….slight 5mph breeze feels like -29

    Posted January 23rd at 9:41 PM

  19. Rocino (N.Marcy):

    really cool affect going on over central and western lake ontario…. check out the radar… looks like mini meso feature over the lake spinning around and starting the produce some LES near ROC.... -12 here already… brrrrrr

    Posted January 23rd at 9:55 PM

  20. Winter (Forestport):

    ... minus 8° ....

    Posted January 23rd at 9:55 PM

  21. Rob (Whitesboro):

    High today was 5 degrees. Already down to -14 degrees.

    Posted January 23rd at 10:10 PM

  22. Adam Musyt:

    Down to -11 at Griffiss as of 11:00. Saranac Lake is now at -28 degrees!

    Posted January 23rd at 11:07 PM

  23. Rob (Whitesboro):

    My dewpoint is -21 right now but it keeps dropping. This is brutal stuff!

    Posted January 23rd at 11:15 PM

  24. Michael (Dolgeville):

    -10 below here. May be a little “warmer” here do to our close proximity to the East Canada Creek.

    Posted January 24th at 12:01 AM

  25. Tom (Richfield Springs):

    -13 degrees, clear, calm, COLD.

    Posted January 24th at 5:21 AM

  26. Denys (East Winfield):

    -11 degrees and I have the 3 “C’s” too! Clear, calm and COLD!!

    Posted January 24th at 5:27 AM

  27. Bill Kardas (WKTV):

    I think tonight’s low will occur a lot earlier than yesterday because of high cloud cover. -14° was the low so far at Griffiss. Temperatures have risen slightly over the past two hours thanks to high clouds moving in.

    Recall yesterday, the clouds didn’t break until 2-3am, putting the low near sunrise.

    Posted January 24th at 5:30 AM

  28. Nick (West Winfield,NY):

    Minus 13 degrees here.

    Posted January 24th at 5:53 AM

  29. Winter (Forestport):

    ...minus 19°...

    Posted January 24th at 5:59 AM

  30. Koz (Ilion):

    -13 here in Ilion … Brrr

    Posted January 24th at 6:21 AM

  31. nugfin (Neil) (South Utica - Genesee St.):

    My low was -11* now up to -9*

    Possible 40’s by end of next week with rain. TYhis winter has sure been a roller coaster ride.

    Posted January 24th at 6:51 AM

  32. sue (fairfield):

    -18 for low so far…...-17 now…..will wait till about 9am to see how much lower i go

    Posted January 24th at 6:52 AM

  33. Jeff H (Sherburne Hills):

    Down to -14 degrees this morning.

    Posted January 24th at 7:30 AM

  34. Tony-CNYWeather.com (Westmo):

    Temp started dropping again. Down to -17 degrees.

    Posted January 24th at 7:37 AM

  35. Lori (Bridgeport):

    I dropped too from -6 to -10 .

    Posted January 24th at 7:54 AM

  36. Laura (West Winfield):

    -14 just after 7:00 this morning. Thank goodness for wood stoves and furnaces!

    Posted January 24th at 7:55 AM

  37. sue (fairfield):

    -18 was my bottom…..up to -13 now

    Posted January 24th at 7:56 AM

  38. MG (Point Rock):

    Got down to -21 here, but already up to -15

    Posted January 24th at 8:11 AM

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