Where is the Cold Coming From?

Cold weather is expected to settle into Kentucky beginning tomorrow and lasting through the weekend. Unfortunately, the coldest temperatures of the week may occur overnight on Valentine’s Day. Temperatures will begin to drop as a cold front moves across the state tonight but where is this cold air coming from?

NAM_221_2015021118_F18_TMPF_2_M_ABOVE_GROUND — 18Z NAM 10m wind, 2m temp, and MSLP (Courtesy: Twisterdata)

Check out the latest run of the NAM model showing predicted low temperatures at 6am CST tomorrow. Notice the very cold air mass in central Canada. Tonight’s cold front will help to pull some of this cold air into the region.

Environment Canada is the government weather agency for the country responsible for issuing special statements, watches, and warnings. Today, Environment Canada issued Extreme Cold Warnings in several provinces.

canada_e — Weather hazard map valid at 3pm CST (Courtesy: Environment Canada)

In northern Ontario, wind chill low temperatures are expected to dip down to around -35ºC with wind chills of -45ºC. These temperatures are in Celsius, if we convert them to Fahrenheit wind chill values are expected to reach -50ºF. That is some serious cold.