Siberian winds could send wind chill to minus 37, Topeka's lowest since 1989
Topekans dreaming of a White Christmas this year are likely to get it, but only after the Capital City shivers through its coldest wind chills in 33 years, forecasters say.
The National Weather Service predicts a 40% to 70% chance that Topeka; Lawrence; Manhattan; Kansas City, Kansas; Emporia; Abilene; and Marysville will see at least four inches of snow on Wednesday and Thursday, according to the website of its Topeka office.
Wind chill indices are then expected to plunge to as low as 35 degrees below zero to 42 below zero late Thursday and early Friday in northeast Kansas, bottoming out at minus 37 in Topeka, the weather service said.
"While official records on wind chill are not kept, these wind chills may be the coldest across northeast Kansas since December 1989, when the wind chill reached minus 41 in Topeka," its website said.
More:How to check Kansas road conditions, maps and see highway images
Friday will be the 33rd anniversary of the day Topeka saw its lowest temperature on record, when the mercury here dropped to minus 26 degrees on Dec. 23, 1989. The Capital City saw a low temperature of minus 22 on the previous day, Dec. 22, 1989.
The impending deep freeze conditions were mentioned by Commissioner Bill Riphahn at Monday morning's meeting of the Shawnee County Commission.
"Make sure you take care of your pets, and be careful out there," he said.
High temperature of 23 forecast for Christmas Day
Cold air flowing into North America from Siberia is expected to plunge the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. into a deep freeze in the days leading up to Christmas, according to the Accuweather website.
A cold front moving Wednesday night through northeast Kansas will cause temperatures to plunge, north winds to increase and snow to move through the area behind the front, the weather service's Topeka office said.
"Confidence continues to increase on the potential for several inches of snow," it said.
Wind chills will remain below zero for about 84 consecutive hours, from Wednesday night through midday Saturday, with the combination of cold, snow and wind bringing potentially life-threatening travel conditions, the weather service's Topeka office said.
More:Can you believe it? Temperature drops to 21 below zero, Topeka's coldest day since 1989
It predicted Topeka will see the following:
• A high temperature of 28 degrees Wednesday, with a 20% chance of snow.
• A low of 5 Wednesday night, with a 90% chance of snow.
• A high of 9 Thursday, with a 60% chance of snow and wind gusts of 30 to 45 mph, resulting in blowing snow and wind chill indices falling to 20 below zero to 30 below by the afternoon.
• A low of minus 10 Thursday night, accompanied by a wind chill of minus 37 and patchy, blowing snow.
• A high of 3 Friday, with patchy, blowing snow.
• A low of minus 6 Friday night, under partly cloudy skies.
• A high of 6 Saturday, with mostly sunny skies.
• A low of minus 1 Saturday night, under partly cloudy skies.
• And a high of 23 on Sunday, which is Christmas Day, with mostly sunny skies.
Contact Tim Hrenchir at 785-213-5934 or threnchir@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: White Christmas, lowest wind chills in 33 years predicted for Topeka
