Is this "normal"?!?!

It is incredibly frustrating to hear people saying that this is the new normal. Many school principals and superintendents all over franklin county, for some reason think extreme cold is "normal". I would like to take the time to explain just how rare this weather is.

Multiple mornings with air temperatures below zero in one winter is not normal. Despite what you may think, it is in fact rare for Columbus Ohio to see sub-zero nights multiple times in one winter, let alone one month.

Wind chill readings below zero are not all that uncommon in central Ohio, however, it goes back to the unprecedented prequency at which they are occurring this season. With days on end with wind chills as low as minus 10 and sometimes as low as minus 25-30, this winter is exceptionally cold.

Snow fall is even above average this year, although it is taking a back seat to the cold weather.

WHAT IS GOING ON! 

I just don't understand how people can think this is normal winter weather. Do people forget last year and the year before that, this quickly. We had not had a sub-zero night in 3 years before this winter. It is very difficult for meteorologist to convey the severity of events, such as this one, to the public when school officials try to downplay the impacts. To say this is the new normal is an ignorant and frankly dangerous thing to say as people will not take the impacts as seriously as they should.

Finally, if this was just like every other winter, then why are water mains breaking, pipes bursting energy costs skyrocketing. The answer this question is because this extraordinary cold is not normal and should not be downplayed by school officials anywhere.

Weather update

Tonight through Saturday morning will feature snowfall totals of 3-6" and very gusty winds. This will lead to very bad road conditions, poor visibility (possibly under 1/4 mile at times) and considerable blowing and drifting snow. 

Sunday will feature more snow and wind, with totals around 2". 

Sunday night through Wednesday morning will feature the coldest  air of the winter with lows down to minus 15 and wind chills bottoming out at a staggering minus 40! The timing of the coldest weather will be Monday night into Tuesday morning. 

PLEASE STAY SAFE TONIGHT INTO NEXT!

I do expect that localized power outages next week due to extreme demand for electricity as well as a strain on the infrastructure from the wind and cold.