Extreme Cold during the Next Week

I just wanted to talk a bit about the cold temperatures--bitterly cold temperatures in some parts of the country--that will affect the Savannah area later this week.

The next ten days will be brutally frigid for parts of the Plains states. Take a look at this image, depicting the surface temperatures of the GFS model for the 12Z model run. Note the sprawling area of -20°F and lower temperatures in parts of the Red River valley of Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. These areas will certainly experience the brunt of the cold weather as the ensuing days approach. The image below shows projected temperatures at 12Z Jan. 8 or 7AM ET and 6AM CT. I would not be surprised to see locations in that area stay below 0°F for the entirety of the 8th.

What's striking is the amount of winter weather we have experienced thus far into the winter season. The cold air has certainly been in place, and the winter storms we have experienced have all been severe, such as the December 18 - 20 blizzard for parts of the Mid-Atlantic states and the snow storm affecting parts of Maine at the present. And make no mistake, this is not the end of the season, forecasters and meteorologists are continuing to predict a cold and active winter for most of the United States, particularly the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and the Plains. But the indirect effects, like achingly frigid temperatures for regions not particularly prone to these conditions, could be what makes the season known over the coming years.

For the Savannah area, the coldest temperatures should be felt on Tuesday morning but this will not be the end of the cold pattern. Unlike what would usually be expected, the frigid, polar air mass will remain in place for the next week at least as more icy cold streams into the Deep South. On Tuesday, temperature could drop to 30°F at the airport and slightly warmer on the coast. But later on in the week, near the 8th as the GFS model run depicts above, the entire Savannah River Valley as well as the islands of southeastern Georgia and southern South Carolina could see sub-freezing temperatures--very unusual.

Happy New Year! Be sure to stay warm as the next week will be a cold one.