Polar Vortex, Jan. 6th, 2014

[Erik88]

31 here outside Orlando

[runco]

Now that's naturally cold orange juice.

[Tempest455]

[z0mbies fear me]

It is 2°F here in Mount Carmel. Good news is that my ice cream cone is not melting!

[peejman]

Power went out at 8 to whole complex, usually means a larger section of my area when it does. Came back on three times, back off. Looks like they finally got it, whatever it was.

 

Good thing I didn't care about the BCS game.

 

Would have been interesting by morning, as inside temp already dropped to about 55 just in those 4 hours, that's how poorly insulated against real cold modern apts. are.

 

- OS

 

 

Probably a substation dropping out. 

 

I didn't sleep worth a darn last night.  I am thankful our power stayed on all night.  I left some water trickling in a few faucets in the house and nothing's frozen up so far.  This is the coldest it's been while we've lived in this house.  When I get home tonite, I think I'll take a thermometer into my crawl space as I'm curious just how cold it is down there. 

[R_Bert]

Ouch.  Mine still says 8. Hope it stays that way. Cold enough already.

 

It was 2 when I woke up.  Everything inside works, so if there is a problem, it will be on the outside faucets (I got them covered with a toboggan-style cap rolled up over them). 

 

even the Innerdwebs is a bit slow.  Sluggish electrons, I suspect.

[mhmd]

Forgot pipes to barn come from house. Frost free faucets didn't help the two foot long crack in supply line under house. Guess I will be having fun tonight.

[peejman]

Forgot pipes to barn come from house. Frost free faucets didn't help the two foot long crack in supply line under house. Guess I will be having fun tonight.

 

 

Mucho sucko.   

[jimmydeuce]

Power went out at around 5:30 this morning, temp was -2. I got up and fired the gas logs up and got back under the covers. Trucks weren't able to get here til 8. They were out there about 15 min. and left. Still no power. I called about 30 minutes later to see if they knew anything, went to get parts, ect. The lady said my power was restored a little after 8.

 

Uhhhh, no it wasn't.

Yes, it was......

 

I thought I was in 3rd grade again for a minute. Anyway I finally got through to her that the power was still off and she said a truck would be right there. She didn't lie. A truck pulled up right after we hung up and fixed the problem. I talked to a couple of the guys and they said they'd been out since 5AM yesterday.

 

Thanks to all who have to work in this kind of weather and freeze their butts off to make sure things work!!

[whitewolf001]

Currently at 0, was 5 below when I got up. Talk about a cold snap.

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/Cookeville+TN+38506:4:US

[Oh Shoot]

Power went out at 8 to whole complex, usually means a larger section of my area when it does. Came back on three times, back off. Looks like they finally got it, whatever it was.

 

Good thing I didn't care about the BCS game.

 

Would have been interesting by morning, as inside temp already dropped to about 55 just in those 4 hours, that's how poorly insulated against real cold modern apts. are.

 

- OS

 

Power went back out just after posting that. At least was on long enough to get inside temp back up. Then on and off several times, off when I tapped out at 2 am.

 

So instead of firing up a lantern or large electric, I just lit a couple candles to get around and read for about 6 hours with my trusty Chinese neck light:

 

 

Besides the slightly scary scenario of being heatless on the coldest night in a decade or more, I imagine there are any number of folks absolutely livid about not getting to see Auburn/FSU game, just heard about 2,000 folks (or homes, dunno) affected.

 

- OS

Edited January 7, 2014 by Oh Shoot

[R_Bert]

Well, figured out today that in spite of my (mostly) best efforts, one of my outside water spigots froze up.  Probably still that way.

 

North corner of the house, and the crawl space was plenty warm (except in the corner, I guess). 

 

I also noted this one is a contractor grade, rather than the 12" "no-freeze" job out front.

 

Re-wrapped in better stuff, Hopefully no damage, but I guess I'll figure that out tomorrow. Yee-ha.

 

 

(cutting off the water supply before bed.......)

Edited January 8, 2014 by R_Bert

[smopoim86]

Looks like it got to -3 here last night. Didn't have any issues that I know of yet. http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KTNMAYNA5&day=7&year=2014&month=1

[analog_kidd]

A guy at work couldn't remember the term polar vortex and was calling it the "Arctic Swirly". I thought that was funny.

[whitewolf001]

Some of you may not get this but those who have ever heard of Mortal Kombat will, hahahaha!

[peejman]

Who has 2 thumbs and is a freakin' moron?  

 

 

 

Yep, me.

 

 

We left water running and I barely slept monday night due to worrying about pipes freezing in my crawlspace.  Thankfully they didn't freeze.  While at work yesterday I decided I would take a thermometer into the crawlspace and find out just how cold it was down there.  So I got home, grabbed a flashlight and a thermometer, and opened the door and crawled in. 

 

Given that is was 15 deg outside, my first though was "gee, it's really not that cold in here."  While I sat there waiting for the thermometer to settle, I looked around and saw a spot of light on one wall, which I thought was odd.   :squint:     I crawled over and to my horror, I found one of the vents still open.  Then I looked around more and found several others open.   :panic:

 

Guess who forgot to close ANY of the crawlspace vents before it got cold?  Yeah... that'd be me.  :doh:

 

So after walked all the way around the house and closing all the vents, I went back in the crawlspace and checked the thermometer.... 42 deg.... while it was 15 deg outside and the vents had been open.  No reason at all to worry about the pipes freezing.  So I had a glass of wine before bed and slept like a baby last night.  

 

I'm glad I don't have to worry about it any more, but I feel really stupid for forgetting that. 

[TMF]

If this global warming keeps going on I might have to invest in better cold weather clothing.

[runco]

Round 2? 

 

Overnight suppose to be 12 here according to WBIR.  BTW the record in the Knoxville area was 24 below zero set in 1985.  I remember, my car would not start.  Not due to the battery, but due to the oil was too thick.

[Oh Shoot]

Round 2? 

 

Overnight suppose to be 12 here according to WBIR.  BTW the record in the Knoxville area was 24 below zero set in 1985.  I remember, my car would not start.  Not due to the battery, but due to the oil was too thick.

 

I remember it well, Jan. 21st, was living in boonies on the side of Clinch Mountain in a tiny propped up trailer with no underpinning while building a house. It seriously got our attention.

 

- OS

Edited January 22, 2014 by Oh Shoot

[94user]

My company is currently working on a new apartment complex in Collierville.  The General contractor wants a framing inspection on the 2nd of the 5 buildings there by this Friday. For that to happen the plumbers, HVAC and the electricians have to have thier inspections first. I'm one of the plumbers. It's a 3 story building that has 20 apartments, 26 bathrooms. All of the 2nd and 3rd floor drain piping has to be filled with water to be tested for leaks. With the current forecast. I don't  see that happening.

[runco]

Well it looks like its 11 here.  The cat has been out now for 30 min, must not be that cold.

[peejman]

My thermometer said 10 deg, but there's very little wind which makes all the difference in the world.

[hipower]

Currently 15 in my back yard. I open the door and let the dog out. I'm freezing from the cold air that came in.

 

Let Molly stay out for about 20 minutes and brought her in.

 

That was less than 5 minutes ago. Now she wants back out.

[runco]

Brrrrrrrrrrrrr its 6 degrees here in Monroe County

[Motasyco]

5 degrees in Hamblen County this morning.