Students Hallie Knotts and Jaclyn Graham walk across the University of Mississippi campus Monday. Photo: Thomas Graning, The Daily Mississippian.
An unwelcome and large area of cold air has taken up residence over the eastern half of the United States, which means a kind of cold that most Oxford residents aren’t used to. This is the second cold front residents have experienced that has driven temperatures into single digits.
Andy Sniezak, a meteorologist with the Memphis National Weather Service Forecast Office, said that today will be the coldest of this particular front.
“We’re expecting a low in Oxford of around 16 degrees, but the winds are going to remain pretty strong throughout the night — we’re expecting winds to remain at about 10 to 15 miles per hour during the overnight hours — so that will allow the wind chill to drop down to the single digits in the Oxford area,” Sniezak said. “There’s potential for the wind chills to be at or maybe even below zero, which is why we have a wind chill advisory out for all of North Mississippi, including Lafayette County.”
Many University of Mississippi students are unhappy about this meteorological development and are searching their rooms, looking for any scrap of cold-weather clothing.
Alyssa Radtke, a junior English major, was concerned that she’s running out of gear.
“I only have so many scarves, and I think I’ve worn all of them twice already.”
But, other than scarves, Radtke was actually well prepared for the cold weather.
“I usually have a jacket that’s built to go underneath a winter jacket, so I literally will wear two winter jackets at all times.”
Walking to class will be a much more challenging task, as students will have to march through the below-freezing temperatures.
Freshman nursing student Nakea Keglar seemed almost frightened by the idea.
“I have to walk to class,” she said, “so I’m a little nervous about the cold. But I live on campus.”
The students who do not live on campus will be suffering just a little more. Commuters will be freezing their way to class as they trudge briskly from the far corners of campus. And for those who walk or bike to campus, the trip will be more than unpleasant.
Elizabeth Tran is an English graduate student who walks to school everyday. She was not looking forward to the prospect of her morning stroll but tried not to let it affect her good humor.
“They didn’t put this in the brochure when I applied,” she joked. “I would cry on the way to school but my tears would freeze, so I’m going to try and avoid that.”
Luckily, Sniezak believes the cold snap should break soon.
“By Wednesday we’ll start seeing temperatures moderate some, and certainly by Thursday temperatures will be much closer to normal levels,” he said.
Nevertheless, Tran looked back to balmier days as she opened the door to the library and stepped into its warmth.
“I was in New Orleans last week, and I regret leaving because it’s so freaking cold.”
— Phil McCausland
dmeditor@gmail.com
