Cold/Wind Chill — Northampton, Pennsylvania

2005-01-23 to 2005-01-24 · Northampton, Pennsylvania

Wider weather episode

In the wake of the winter storm, a high pressure system from Canada built into the northeastern part of the United States. The pressure gradient difference between this high and the departing low pressure system produced windy conditions from the 23rd into the morning of the 24th. The combination of the wind and unseasonably cold temperatures produced wind chill factors of 10 to 15 degrees below zero across Eastern Pennsylvania from the evening of the 23rd into the morning of the 24th. Many municipalities declared code blues to assist the homeless and elderly. A 68-year-old man died on the morning of the 24th from hypothermia in Easton (Northampton County). His vehicle became stuck in the frozen slush on the barricaded Lehigh Drive. He left the vehicle and tried to walk a quarter of a mile before he collapsed and died. The cold weather caused an increase in the number of water lines that broke and busted pipes within buildings and homes. In Philadelphia, two separate pipes burst on the 23rd and 25th at the Harrison College House. Actual low temperatures the morning of the 24th ranged from 5 degrees below zero to 5 degrees above zero. The low temperature of 3 degrees above zero on the morning of the 24th at the Philadelphia International Airport was the lowest reading of the winter season.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5434548. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.