That arctic blast of cold air that moved into the Lawrence area last week is expected to weaken with temperatures perhaps climbing back into the 40s Friday, weather forecasters say.
But sub-freezing temperatures the last few days have already taken a toll on underground waterlines and new plants and shrubs.
Lawrence city crews have been busy with several waterline breaks during the cold spell, City Distribution Supt. George Blevins said.
"The ground contracts and the pipes contract and you have leaks," Blevins said. "It will continue as long as it stays below freezing."
By the time Lawrence residents awoke this morning the temperature may have dropped as low as 5 degrees, weather forecasters said. Early morning lows have been below 10 degrees the past few days.
The cold and lack of rain or snow so far this winter also is stressing young shrubs and trees, said Bruce Chladny, horticulture agent with the Kansas State University Agricultural Extension office in Douglas County.
"Their roots are at the top of the soil, and when the ground freezes they're rendered useless," Chladny said.
Some snow would help protect the plants and roots from sub-freezing temperatures, Chladny said. It also would provide much-needed moisture, he said.
"Snow is an awesome insulator as well as an irrigator," he said.
Light snow fell at times in Lawrence on Wednesday morning, but it amounted to only a trace and quickly melted when it hit the ground.
More snow or rain is possible late Friday night or early Saturday morning, said Matt Wolkers, meteorologist with the weather service in Topeka. Chances will continue through early next week, he said.
"Right now we're not expecting a whole lot," Wolkers said, adding that it was too early to be more specific.
Early next week temperatures should reach daytime highs in the 30s or 40s with lows in the 20s, Wolkers said.
The atmosphere's jet stream currently is running along the southern part of the country and has brought unusual amounts of snow to the Gulf Coast states and western Texas, Wolkers said.
It's a good time to water outdoor plants when the temperature gets above freezing, Chladny said.
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