Dry Falls by Bobby Coggins ©January 2014
Extreme Cold Warning
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service
Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1136 AM EST Sun Jan 19 2025
...EXTREME COLD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON EST MONDAY ABOVE 3500 FEET...
...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO NOON EST MONDAY BELOW 3500 FEET...
* WHAT...For the Extreme Cold Warning above 3500 feet, dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below expected. For the Cold Weather Advisory below 3500 feet, very cold wind chills as low as 14 below expected.
* WHERE...Avery, Graham, Haywood, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, Northern Jackson, Southern Jackson, Swain, and Yancey Counties.
* WHEN...From midnight tonight to noon EST Monday.
* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin is exposed to these temperatures. Pets and livestock will be endangered by extreme cold if left unprotected for extended periods.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must go outside.
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
...EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER ARRIVING TONIGHT AND CONTINUING THROUGH AT LEAST THURSDAY MORNING...
A very cold Arctic airmass will build into the region tonight. Although much of the area will see typical January temperatures today, lows tonight will be 15 to 20 degrees below normal for this time of year. Expect temperatures to fall into the teens tonight across the foothills and Piedmont, and single digits in most of the mountains, with some high elevations falling below zero. Highs in many areas will not rise above freezing Monday. Similar temperature trends will recur Tuesday and Wednesday. This prolonged cold period meets the definition of a "cold wave." Its duration sets it apart from cold snaps of the kind we see multiple times each winter, and the associated impacts are expected to be more significant.
The cold weather will result in high demand for electricity across the region. Power outages may result from the heavy electrical load. Those who require electricity for heating or medical equipment should consider backup heat or electrical sources.
Take steps now to protect your property and health from the extreme cold. If you go outside, wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Wear a hat and cover your mouth with a scarf. If driving, keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. Check your antifreeze and windshield washer fluid levels. Be sure to carry a fully charged cell phone.
If you are home, consider allowing indoor plumbing fixtures to drip to allow water to trickle through pipes and inhibit freezing. Use caution with space heaters in order to avoid fire or injury. If emergency generators will be used, they must be situated outdoors in well-ventilated areas to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Also, remember to check in on family, friends, and elderly neighbors who might be susceptible to the cold. Do not forget about your pets and livestock. Make sure they have a source of water that will not freeze and a warm place to take shelter from the wind and cold.
Do not attempt to walk on frozen ponds, lakes, or streams, as the ice will not be thick enough to support the weight, even of a child.
A cold wave is defined as average daily temperatures 12 degrees or more below normal mid-January average daily temperatures for 48 hours or longer. Normal mid-January average daily temperatures are, for Asheville 37, Charlotte 41, and GSP 42. By definition it follows that a cold wave is when the average daily temperature for Asheville is 25, Charlotte is 29, and GSP is 30.
Cold Weather Advisories and Extreme Cold Warnings are in effect through Monday morning in the mountains and foothills. Additional Advisories or Warnings may be issued for subsequent nights, to cover the short term impact of dangerous wind chills.
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