Uncommonly cold temperatures are expected to grip most of the nation this week. The Northwest and middle part of the country are already feeling the blast from the polar vortex and Georgia can expect to full its full impact beginning Wednesday.
Cold weather requires preparation in Georgia. Make sure your pipes are wrapped or that you leave faucets dripping to prevent freezing. Don’t use a gas stove to heat your home, even if your power goes out. It wouldn’t hurt to stock up on firewood if you have a fireplace.
This is the 10th polar vortex pushing through the U.S. this season and meteorologists state it is also the coldest. This is a large system affecting not only the U.S. and Canada but also a large part of Western Europe.
A polar vortex occurs when Arctic air normally at the North Pole is pushed downward into the continents.
The blast poses new problems for areas like Kentucky ravished with floods from storms over the weekend. Nine were confirmed dead from the cold temperatures Sunday. An estimated 1,000 people were stranded in the flooding requiring rescue.
So, how cold will it get in Georgia? Tuesday will be mild with an expected high of 55 degrees and a low of 41. Cold area will start pushing through on Wednesday with the high reaching 42 degrees and a low of 26 degrees expected. The complication for Tuesday is rain, which could turn into sleet, ice, or snow, depending on the temperature.
Dress warm Thursday because it will be the coldest day with a high of 32 degrees and a low of 20 degrees.
It will begin to warm up slightly on Friday with 44 degrees expected and a low of 28 degrees. Saturday will continue the slow warming trend with a high of 53 and a low of 33 degrees.
Those dreading the cold can take heart. It is expected to be 45 degrees below zero in Montana.