Hog-on-Ice Weather Gripping the Country: Watch Phinney the Piglet

A hapless piglet from Pittsburgh named – we couldn’t make this up if we tried – Phinney is becoming an Internet sensation, proving at least one possible meaning of the colloquialism “hog on Ice,” which has stumped etymologists since it first appeared in the mid-19th Century.

But if you’re trying to walk out there, you get it.

Boy, do you get it.

Remaining upright on slick sidewalks and streets is only half the battle in the coming days.

Trecherous cold is gripping a large section of the United States in a U-shaped trough stretching from Montana down through the Tennessee Valley and up along the East Coast.

CNN said a second Arctic blast will sweep through the country starting Tuesday, plunging actual temperatures to below zero and wind chills as low as 40 degrees below zero in The Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. Even parts of the South will be in the deep freeze by Wednesday morning,

More snow is on the way, too, with 3 to 7 inches forecast from Ohio to Maryland.

Accuweather.com warns lake-effect snow events are expected, and some areas close to the Great Lakes could see significant accumulations of 6 to 12 inches, causing major travel disruptions.

“With flow from the Arctic, ice-cold winds will affect the Great Lakes and all of the Northeast throughout the week,” said AccuWeather.com Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams.

The weather pattern creates dangers for critters like Phinney. Dr. James Averill, Michigan’s state veterinarian, said in a news release that it’s important to shelter both farm animals and pets from the bitter cold and ensure they have fresh supplies of feed and water.

“Pets and livestock throughout the state can be negatively impacted by severe winter weather,” Averill said. “Both pets and livestock react to these harsh conditions and it’s imperative that owners plan ahead and take the extra steps necessary to ensure the health and safety of their animals.”

Screenshot: Ricky Phillip Gindlesberger video via ‎WPXI-TV Pittsburgh

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