COLUMBUS – An arctic blast of frigid weather arrived in Columbus for the beginning of the work week, preceded by rain and high winds, all courtesy of a “bomb cyclone” fueled by a polar vortex that is forecast to hit the Midwest.
Wind chill advisory in effect from 9pm Tuesday until 2am Wednesday.
Wind chills as low as 15 below zero.
Very cold wind chills expected. Wind chills as low as 15 below zero. The cold wind chills could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.
Power outages possible
American Electric Power officials warn winds combined with saturated ground mean trees are more susceptible to uproot and fall, possibly downing power lines & breaking poles, so the utility says more than 2 000 personnel are prepared to respond.
Car care
Extreme cold is tough on vehicles, especially the battery. To preserve the power you will need to get your vehicle started, the auto club AAA recommends parking your car in a garage, if possible, turning off your lights, wipers, and heater before you turn off your engine at the end of a drive and unplugging phone chargers and USB cables for devices like iPods as soon as you turn off your engine to prevent an unnecessary drain on the battery the next time you start your car.
Despite the cold, the auto club recommends drivers avoid using their car’s heater longer than they have to.
Pets, people & pipes
The extreme cold is also dangerous for animals and people. Pets should not be left outdoors for any length of time and residents are encouraged to check on neighbors, especially the elderly.
Frigid temperatures also lead to frozen pipes, which can burst, so experts recommend disconnecting outdoor hoses or turning off the water sources to exposed pipes and faucets.
Wicked weather
A long weekend of ferocious winter weather is looming for the U.S. as a continuing wave of Arctic storms threatens to break low-temperature records in the nation’s heartland and spread cold and snow from coast to coast.
It’s casting a chill over everything ranging from football playoffs to presidential campaigns. campaigns.
Sunday’s AFC wild-card playoff fame between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo was rescheduled until Monday afternoon due to dangerous weather conditions.
Saturday’s AFC wild-card game between the Miami Dolphins and the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City could be played in some of the coldest temperatures ever for an NFL playoff game.
Republican contestants campaigning ahead of Monday’s Iowa caucuses were contending with a blizzard warning covering most of the state.