Dangerously cold wind chills are expected

On January 20, 2025By Littum

Extreme cold settles in
Felt-like temperatures between -5 to -20F
Probably not above freezing until Thursday

Current alarms

An Extreme cold warning and one Cold weather advisory is in place in most hometowns. Dangerously cold wind chills are expected through Monday morning.

Current cold weather warnings from the National Weather Service.(WDBJ Weather)

Dangerously cold this morning

A few showers are possible early, but the biggest headline is the extreme cold that has built in. Feel-like temperatures this morning are between -5 to -20F for some hometowns. We will maintain these hazardous conditions through Wednesday.

Extremely cold conditions settle into the region through Wednesday.

Quick freeze into this week

The cold air this week will rival the temperatures experienced nearly a decade ago. High temperatures will run 20-30 degrees below normal!

Equally significant will be the duration of the cold, which will extend over several days from today.

Nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing in some hometowns, especially over the higher ground where there is a deeper snowpack.
We won’t get above freezing until Thursday afternoon

The First Alert Weather Team has issued First Alert Weather Days for Monday through Wednesday.(WDBJ Weather)

Frozen water pipes often occur when the temperature drops below <20° for long periods. Pipes can start to freeze as soon as 6 hours in cold temperatures. Look for icy spots on exposed pipes, weak or no water flow coming from the faucet, and water seeping around the pipe.

Some tips to protect your pipes during this prolonged cold.(WDBJ Weather)

This week’s storm chance

Weather models continue to signal a storm in the 22nd-24th time frame. January over the southeast/mid-Atlantic/northeast. Most models show that this system holds well to the south and east. There is a greater potential for snow towards the coast.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely in the coming days.