Winter Weather Tightens Grip on Madison County

A blast of Arctic air that sent temperatures plunging into the teens earlier this week continues to hold Madison County in its icy grip, with rain and near-freezing temperatures approaching.

The National Weather Service forecasts cloudy skies and a high of 42 degrees Wednesday, Jan. 8, followed by rain and temperatures dropping to 37 degrees Thursday. The chance of precipitation for Thursday stands at 95 percent.

“Stay indoors in a heated area if possible and avoid the wind, keeping your mouth covered if you must be directly exposed to the elements,” Madison County Emergency Management Coordinator Shelly Butts said. “Limit your time outdoors if you can.”

Monday morning saw wind chills as low as 14 degrees in parts of the county. This Arctic mass, what meteorologists sometimes call a “Polar Vortex,” should loosen its grip by the weekend.

“Prepare your pipes ahead of time. Wrap any outdoor pipes to insulate them,” Butts said. “Space heaters should be stable and placed on a hard, level surface with anything flammable at least three feet away. This includes rugs, curtains, bedding, and clothing.”

The forecast shows a welcome warmup starting Saturday, with temperatures climbing to 52 degrees, followed by near 60-degree weather on Sunday.

Until then, Butts urges residents to keep checking on elderly neighbors and bring pets inside when possible.

“Have something with you to scrape your windshield if needed. Keep ice and snow off of your vehicle if possible while traveling,” Butts said. “Have a safety kit available in your vehicle with a blanket, shovel, jumper cables, toolkit, flashlight, snacks/ water, dry socks, boots, hats, gloves, and some kitty litter to help with traction should you need to get out of your vehicle where ice is present.”

The county’s emergency management office maintains a weather alert system. Residents can sign up at madison. genasys.com/portal for notifications about weather conditions that come directly from the National Weather Service.

“Pick your favorite means of information sources – television, radio, social media, podcasts, whatever way you are most comfortable in staying in touch with current, local conditions and forecasts,” Butts said.

Officials recommend residents have adequate fuel sources on hand and backup plans for potential power outages. They also suggest gathering blankets and preparing to dress in layers to stay warm, noting that mittens retain more body heat than gloves.

The National Weather Service indicates this weather system will continue to influence local conditions until the weekend warmup begins.

— SHELLY BUTTS, MADISON COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR