Baby, it’s cold outside.

Friday, January 1st, the high temperature in Nashville was 37 degrees. It fell below freezing the night of 1/1/2010 and over the past three days, the high temp has never gotten back to 32. The long-range, five-day forecast says our warmest day of the coming week will get up to only 31 degrees (on Wednesday). We may be able to ice-skate on the ponds by the end of the week. It may get up to 34 on Sunday, January 10th. We’re looking at 10+ consecutive days of below freezing temperatures.

Friends, this is unusual for Nashville. In 2009, the January temps got above freezing on 28 out of 31 days. In 2008, the high temp was above freezing on 29 of 31 days. In 2007, it was above freezing on 30 out of 31 days. In 2006, it was above freezing on 31 out of 31 days.

Last year (and most years), we’ve actually had a balmy week of January temps in the 50s & 60s.

Button up. Stay warm. Take care of your pets. It could be awhile before the spring thaw.