Bitter cold continues with dangerous wind chills to start the week
Arctic air keeps temperatures in the 20s as the coldest night of the season arrives Monday night
Bitter cold grips the region to start the week
The region got off to a brutally cold start, with wind chills dipping into the single digits early this morning. Even with plenty of sunshine through the afternoon, temperatures struggled to rebound, topping out only in the upper 20s. That sunshine helped brighten the day, but it did little to offset the cold air firmly in place, keeping it feeling colder than yesterday with wind chills lingering in the teens and low 20s.
This cold is being driven by a strong surge of Arctic air that has settled across the Ohio Valley, and it is not in a hurry to move out just yet.
Another frigid night ahead with dangerous wind chills
Tonight will be another very cold one as temperatures drop back into the upper teens. Gusty northwest winds will continue at times, and that combination will send wind chills back down into the single digits overnight. While skies remain mostly clear, the lack of cloud cover will allow temperatures to fall quickly, so it will feel especially cold late tonight and early Monday morning.
Anyone heading out late or early should bundle up, as exposed skin can become uncomfortable very quickly in these conditions.
Monday stays sunny but windy and cold
Monday will bring plenty of sunshine once again, but don’t let that fool you — it will remain bitterly cold. Afternoon highs will only climb into the 20s, and brisk winds of 15 to 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, will keep wind chills stuck in the single digits to low teens through much of the day.
Despite the sunshine, it will feel more like the heart of winter, and conditions will remain harsh for outdoor activities.
Coldest air of the season arrives Monday night
Monday night into early Tuesday is shaping up to be one of the coldest stretches we’ve seen so far this season. Temperatures are expected to drop into the single digits across much of the area, with wind chills potentially falling below zero by Tuesday morning.
This level of cold can impact pets, pipes, and anyone spending extended time outdoors, so now is a good time to take cold-weather precautions.
Midweek warm-up with rain, then watching the weekend
A noticeable warming trend begins on Wednesday as temperatures rebound into the low 40s. Along with that warmer air, another weather system will move into the region late Wednesday into Thursday. Most of the precipitation with this system will fall as rain, but as colder air filters back in, a few snowflakes could briefly mix in before everything moves out by Thursday afternoon.
Looking ahead to next weekend, another system may approach the area. While it’s too early to lock in details, there is the potential for snow flurries to mix in, so this will be something to monitor closely as we get closer.
ABC 36 Storm Team 36-hour forecast
Sunday Night: Clear and bitterly cold. Overnight lows fall into the upper teens with wind chills dropping into the single digits.
Monday: Mostly sunny but very cold and windy. Highs remain in the 20s with northwest winds gusting up to 30 mph. Wind chills stay in the single digits to low teens.
Monday Night: Clear and dangerously cold. Temperatures plunge into the single digits with wind chills potentially dropping below zero by Tuesday morning.
