This bitter cold air mass that we are experiencing for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day will rank in the top 5 coldest since the 1950s for our area. We had temperatures in the single digits for the Lows in 1977 1997 and 2002 with New Year’s Day 1977 being the coldest on record with a high of 21 and a low of 1. High temperatures will only be in the twenties for the week ahead except Wednesday we will make a run at 30 to 32 degrees but another cold friend will bring bitter cold air for Thursday when temperatures will be much like what we experience Monday. The Smokies had some light snow on Sunday but nothing significant inside for the remainder of East Tennessee and the plateau at this time. Temperature should warm up to between 30 and 40 degrees by next weekend. Happy New Year from the Weather Center!