‘Dangerous Cold’ Weather Conditions Are Here And Ahead

A four-letter word sums up what Mother Nature will throw at much of the U.S. during the next two weeks: Cold.

Across Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, Michael Clark, chief meteorologist for BAMWX.com, says farmers should be prepared for what he describes as very dangerous cold.

“(In parts of those states), you’ve got wind chills at minus 40 F,” he says.

Clark adds that he expects the Northern Plains will stay dry and cold, and the Central Plains into the Ohio Valley will be hit with a parade of snow events over the next two weeks.

Clark doesn’t anticipate the low temperatures to abate anytime soon.

“During the next couple of weeks, this is probably what we’re going to be dealing with – cold, snowy conditions,” he says.

Be vigilant to assess ice. Cold conditions are concerning for livestock producers and even contribute to dangerous scenarios for individuals looking to enjoy snowmobiling or ice fishing.

Curt Sinclair, University of Illinois Extension, says icy ponds and rivers are potential hazards this time of year.

"A minimum of 4 inches of clear, newly-formed ice is needed to support one person on foot," Sinclair says, in a university press release. "New ice is usually stronger than old ice, and clear ice is usually stronger than ice that appears cloudy."

Ice across a pond is seldom uniform, Sinclair explains. Water movement and snow cover can cause vast differences in ice thickness and strength. Moving water under frozen streams will weaken the freezing process.  

Livestock producers, needing to chop ice on ponds or streams to provide water for livestock, need to be especially vigilant to stay safe.

"A pond may have 12 inches of ice in one area and only 1 inch of ice only 10 feet away," Sinclair says.