Michiana remains frigid

[Richard]

By MARGARET FOSMOE
Tribune Staff Writer

If you stepped outside about 9 a.m. Friday and it seemed a wee bit colder than it had a couple hours earlier, you weren't imagining it.

The lowest air temperature recorded in South Bend during this week's arctic chill fest was minus 19 degrees at 8:55 a.m. Friday at South Bend Regional Airport, tying the previous record for that date set in 1972.

South Bend tied a record low Thursday, too, dropping to minus 15 degrees shortly before midnight. The last Jan. 15 the city reached that temperature was in 1994.
 
Despite the dangerously cold temperatures, South Bend remained several degrees above its all-time record low of minus 22 degrees recorded Jan. 20, 1943, and Jan. 25, 1897, according to Sam Lashley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in North Webster, Ind.

The coldest cities in the region were Knox and Angola, Ind., which each hit minus 26 degrees late Thursday or early Friday.

And some area wind chills were between minus 30 and minus 40 on those two days, Lashley said.

The area's warm spot was Benton Harbor, which recorded a Thursday-Friday low of a balmy 7 degrees above zero. Benton Harbor was warmed slightly by winds off Lake Michigan, which modified the air temperature, as well as some cloud cover, Lashley said.

Friday's area lows were nowhere near the lowest air temperature ever recorded in the Hoosier state.

That record is minus 36 degrees, set Jan. 19, 1994, in New Whiteland, Ind.

And Michigan's record low? That is minus 51, set Feb. 9, 1934, in Vanderbilt, Mich.

Temperatures are expected to moderate some today, according to the weather service forecast.

It's going to be cloudy, with an inch or two of snow likely, and a high near 23 degrees. Wind chills at times could reach as low as minus 15.

More snow showers are expected tonight and early Sunday, with a low around 16. New snow accumulation could be about 2 inches.

A few more snow showers are expected Sunday, with a high near 22. And even more snow showers could arrive Sunday night, with a low around 11.

Monday — Martin Luther King Day — will be cloudy, with a high near 22 and a 30 percent chance of snow.

Michiana's low temps

Area cities and towns reached nearly their lowest recorded temperatures ever during the bitter cold snap Thursday and Friday. Here are the unofficial low temperatures recorded between 7 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. Friday:

South Bend -19
Elkhart -13
Goshen -21
Middlebury -20
Culver -23
LaPorte -19
Knox -26
Warsaw -18
Sturgis -18
Benton Harbor +7

Source: National Weather Service

http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbc.../1129/News

[Astrojewels]

What do you do in that weather? Seriously? Do you just stay in doors? Does your house warm up? I am always amazed that you guys can live there, wow…

[DreamTime]

Yes, we stay inside most of the time unless we have to run to the car. It was so cold last night when we came home from shopping (-13 below zero), that poor Anubis was crying as he ran down the sidewalk lifting his feet. He actually let me put boots and a jacket on him which he absolutely hates! I felt so bad for him. He just didn't want to go to the bathroom.

[William]

LOL cute story, me from the south have no idea how cold you guys are.....

[Astrojewels]

That is just crazy DT, I feel cold just thinking about it, brrr, you must have good heating and insulation.

[Mercy Now]

My dog doesn't mind it too much as he has a thick fur coat. He still wants to go for his daily exercise even in the -13 temps so I oblige. I do bring him in though  and let him out every other hour or so for about a half hour. The horses don't stay in their stalls like you'd think. They find a sunny spot, if any, or a wind break and pretty much stand there.They do get blanketed at night though and are stalled.

It was this cold and colder back in 1977 when my first child was born. That was the year you could walk across the Ohio River.

The key broke off in the frozen door lock of our car when I went into labor . 

It's much warmer here today. Almost balmy at 30 degrees.:D The wind is blowing though and that makes it feel about 20 degrees.
The snow we did get is almost gone.

[Astrojewels]

Note to self- never visit in the winter….

[Mercy Now]

lol!! AJ....For our region these temps aren't common.  I want you to come visit me if you ever get the opportunity.

What's the temp in your area of Oz?

 

[Astrojewels]

Today we are expecting 34C/93F, and the next few days it should be around 38-39C/102F, so yep its way different to where you are. I am going to visit one day, but it is expensive, and I think it would be good to wait until my daughter is older so she can come also, the kids had to stay at home last time.  

[Richard]

I know I wish we were having some global warming right now. This winter has been colder and snowier than normal. I can deal with mild winters but this winter has been a bit much to deal with. I have to shovel my roof because there’s so much snow up there and ice dams have built up. The normal temp for this time of year should be in the 30s. I wish it was that now because that’s warm enough to prevent ice from building up on the roof.