Wind Chill Advisory in effect from 7 pm this evening to noon Sunday…forecast and safety tips
CALDWELL COUNTY, NC (January 7, 2017)…A very cold arctic blast is descending upon us that will bring temperatures down to single digits for two consecutive nights. We won’t be above the freezing mark until Tuesday it appears as well. Roads may be treacherous due to the thawing and then extremely hard freezing temps. Best advice is to just stay home especially after dark…if a vehicle were to slide off an embankment, it may not be visible to anyone including emergency crews which could result in a tragedy that we don’t want to see. We have provided some life-saving tips from the National Weather Service below.
As always, one of the main concerns in cold weather is heating your home in a safe manner. There are some safety tip flyers at the bottom of this post that were provided to us by Caldwell County EMS…Please Be Aware!!!
Tonight – Mostly clear, with a low around 7. Wind chill values as low as -3. West northwest wind 6 to 8 mph.
Sunday – Sunny, with a high near 27. Wind chill values as low as -3. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph.
Sunday Night – Partly cloudy, with a low around 7. Light and variable wind.
Monday – Mostly sunny, with a high near 32. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Monday Night – Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. Calm wind.
Tuesday – Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40.
From the National Weather Service…A very cold arctic air mass will continue building into the region today. Falling temperatures will be aided by current snowpack from the recent winter storm…leading to overnight lows in teens to single digits tonight as well as Sunday night. The coldest temperatures will generally reside across western North Carolina…southward into the SC piedmont. Slightly warmer temperatures are expected to the west into the western and central upstate as well as northeast Georgia.
The cold weather will result in high demands for electricity across the region. Power outages may result from the heavy electrical load. Those who require electricity for heating or medical equipment should consider backup heat or electrical sources.
Take steps now to protect your property and health from the extreme cold. If you go outside…wear several layers of loose fitting…lightweight…warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. mittens are warmer than gloves. Wear a hat and cover your mouth with a scarf. If driving…keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. Check your antifreeze and windshield washer fluid levels. Be sure to carry a fully charged cell phone. The best advice is to simply stay home.
In your home…consider allowing indoor plumbing fixtures to drip to allow water to trickle through pipes and inhibit freezing. use caution with space heaters in order to avoid fire or injury. If emergency generators will be used…they must be situated outdoors in well ventilated areas to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Also…remember to check in on family…friends…and elderly neighbors who might be susceptible to the cold. do not forget about your pets and livestock. Make sure they have a source of water that will not freeze and a warm place to take shelter from the wind and cold.
Do not attempt to walk on frozen ponds…lakes or streams…as the ice will not be thick enough to support the weight…even of a child.
A cold wave is defined as when the average daily temperature is 12 degrees or more below normal mid-January average daily temperatures for 48 hours or longer. Normal mid-January average daily temperatures are…for Asheville 37…charlotte 41…and GSP 42. By definition it follows that a cold wave is when the average daily temperature for Asheville is 25…charlotte is 29…and GSP is 30.
