January is typically the coldest month across the area and today may very well end up as the coldest day of the winter. Arctic air is now firmly entrenched. Wind chill warnings and advisories are posted for areas away from the coast. Warnings are posted when wind chills can be as cold at 48 below zero. Advisories are posted for wind chills as low as 23 below zero.
I’ll be updating the forecast on Twitter at @growingwisdom would love to hear from you there.
Temperatures this afternoon, before you factor in the wind, will remain below zero in the mountains to upper single numbers in Portland. Remember that pets also feel the affects of the cold. Please don’t leave them outside for long periods of time. Smaller dogs and cats can be particularly susceptible to the cold.
Wind chill or real feel temperatures are what your skin feels when you add in the wind. If you are dressed for winter the wind chill. This particular cold snap will not set any records and won’t be that long lasting. All in all, fairly typical for January.
Where is the snow?
January can also be a dry month. Because the air is so cold, it doesn’t contain much moisture. It becomes difficult for storms to move into the cold air. Late Friday a storm will try to move towards New England. However, latest indications are that most, if not all of the snow will stay to our south. It does look like temperatures will moderate a bit next week as many areas see temperatures rising above freezing.
Gardening this week All the dry air associated with the cold isn’t good for our indoor houseplants. Recently, I took a trip to greenhouse and saw how they care for their plants in winter. Hopefully, some of the tips help to keep your plants healthy until spring. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this blog or any others. Please follow me on Twitter at @growingwisdom and check out my latest videos at GrowingWisdom.com
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