The forecast for today is brrrr.
Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties are not immune from the freezing arctic weather that has swept across much of the country bringing record lows.
Temperatures dropped Monday night to around 15 degrees and today’s high is expected to only be around 25 degrees, although it will be sunny. Coupled with gusty northwest winds, it should feel like zero to 5 below zero until about 10 a.m.
The temperature will drop to about 14 again tonight.
“The record low for Jan. 7 is 15 in 1969,” National Weather Service Forecaster Hal Austin in Newport said.
The record low for Jan. 8 is 16 degrees in 1968, he added.
“It looks like both of those records stand a chance of being broken,” he said about the record lows that were set in the 1960s.
The NWS website warns residents that these low temperatures can produce frostbite in as little as 30 minutes, so dress appropriately with a hat and gloves.
The wind chill advisory is in effect until 10 a.m. Wind chill advisories are given when the temperature falls below zero and the wind speed is higher than 10 miles per hour, Austin said.
There is also a flood warning in effect for the Neuse River in Kinston until late Wednesday night. The NWS states the flood stage was at 14.1 feet on Monday at 8 a.m. Flood stage is 14 feet.
Temperatures are expected to rise into the 40s with sunshine on Wednesday.
“It looks like it will be warming up nicely through the week,” Austin said, “into the mid-60s on Saturday.”
Avoid cold weather problems
Extreme cold weather can cause problems to the health of people and pets, and vehicles, especially batteries and radiators, are vulnerable when temperatures drop.
Emergency Management Director Roger Dail said to stay indoors, if possible, but dress appropriately when going outside.
“It’s a good thing to wear multiple layers if you have to go outside,” he said. “Try not to have much exposed skin, especially when we get into real low wind chill factors.”
Lenoir County Health Department Director Joey Huff also recommends limiting exposure to the cold.
“I have advised my own staff who work outside,” he said, “to minimize their time outside in the cold weather.”
Some medical conditions can be aggravated by cold or temperatures that bounce between warm and cold, Dail said.
People with respiratory problems,” he said, “that seems to intensify that problem just because of weather changes.” Asthma and COPD are particularly susceptible, he added.
Make sure to take precautions in your home, as well, by wrapping exposed pipes and blocking drafts with plastic or rolled towels.
“We have seen some fires,” Dail said, “where people try to use accessory heat.”
Make sure to keep space heaters well away from combustible items, such as clothing or paper.
Dail said to clean out the fireplace and flue if you haven’t used it in a while, and always use a screen when burning wood.
The older style of electric blankets with high/medium/low settings instead of a thermostat can pose a fire hazard if left on for too long.
“You don’t need to leave them on when you’re not in the house,” Dail said. “The best thing to do is unplug it. Then you’ll know it’s off.”
Take precautions to prevent a fire hazard around your pet spaces when using a heat lamp.
“Make sure, again, to have the proper clearance because (a lamp) generates heat,” Dail said.
Have the lamp secured tightly. If it falls or gets knocked down into wood shavings or blankets, it could start a fire, he said.
Huff said to make sure pets are indoors or they have a shelter to protect them from winds and extreme cold. Dogs that are normally tied up in the yard should have a protective space in which to get shelter.
“That (tied up) dog needs a shelter,” he said.
Pets can’t have access to water if their water bowl is frozen.
“(People) need to make sure the pets have water in the bowl — not ice,” he said.
While you may not be able to prevent some types of car breakdowns, one way to prevent being stranded by the side of the road in cold weather is to make sure your car’s radiator has sufficient antifreeze in it. And keep an emergency kit and blankets handy in your vehicle, just in case.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.
Breakout box:
Warnings signs of hypothermia
Adults:
n Shivering, exhaustion
n Confusion, fumbling hands
n Memory loss, slurred speech
n Drowsiness
Infants:
n Bright red, cold skin
n Very low energy
What to Do
If you notice any of these signs, take the person’s temperature. If it is below 95 degrees, the situation is an emergency — get medical attention immediately.
Warning signs of frostbite
At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin — frostbite may be beginning. Any of the following signs may indicate frostbite:
n A white or grayish-yellow skin area
n Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
n Numbness
A victim is often unaware of frostbite until someone else points it out because the frozen tissues are numb
What to Do
If you detect symptoms of frostbite, seek medical care. Because frostbite and hypothermia both result from exposure, first determine whether the victim also shows signs of hypothermia
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention