Winter Weather Awareness - Getting Ready

...GET READY...

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...WIND CHILLS...
THE DANGER OF COLD AIR IS MORE INTENSE IN WINTER WHEN THE WIND IS
BLOWING. STRONG WINDS CAUSE A PRONOUNCED INCREASE IN THE CHILLING
EFFECT OF LOW TEMPERATURES.

     -IN A 5 MPH WIND...A TEMPERATURE OF ZERO BECOMES THE EQUIVALENT
      OF 11 BELOW ZERO.
     -INCREASE THOSE WINDS TO 30 MPH AND THE EFFECT WOULD BE EQUAL TO
      A FRIGID MINUS 26 DEGREES.

PROTECTION AGAINST FROST BITE IS NECESSARY IN THIS TYPE OF WIND
DRIVEN COLD. REMEMBER...EXPOSED SKIN CAN FREEZE IN A MATTER OF
MINUTES.

...YOUR VEHICLE...
MAKE SURE YOUR CAR IS WINTERIZED FOR THE SEASON. MAKE SURE THAT YOU 
HAVE SUFFICIENT TIRE TREAD AND THAT BRAKES...LIGHTS...BATTERY... 
EXHAUST...HEAT AND DEFROSTER...AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ALL IN GOOD 
WORKING ORDER.  KEEP YOUR GASOLINE TANK FULL.

HAVE ON HAND A FLASH LIGHT...JUMPER CABLES...SHOVEL...SNOW BRUSH... 
ICE SCRAPER...SAND OR KITTY LITER...WARM CLOTHING...AND A FIRST AID 
KIT. FOR LONG TRIPS ADD FOOD...WATER AND MEDICATION. HAVE A CELL 
PHONE AND KEEP YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR CAR RADIO TUNED FOR THE 
LATEST WINTER STORM INFORMATION.
 
DON/T LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE IF YOU ARE MAROONED IN A WINTER STORM. IF 
YOU ARE UNABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING...STAY IN YOUR CAR AND WAIT FOR 
HELP. RUN THE ENGINE SPARINGLY TO KEEP WARM...BUT BE SURE TO OPEN A 
DOWNWIND WINDOW SLIGHTLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON AND KEEP THE EXHAUST 
PIPE CLEAR OF SNOW. TIE A COLORED CLOTH TO THE RADIO ANTENNA OR HANG 
IT OUT OF A WINDOW AND SHINE THE DOME LIGHT.

...FREEZING RAIN...
SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS IN WINTER STORMS OCCUR 
WITH FREEZING RAIN. FREEZING RAIN OCCURS WHEN SURFACE TEMPERATURES 
ARE AT OR BELOW 32 DEGREES AND RAIN FREEZES UPON IMPACT TO EXPOSED 
OBJECTS.
     -ANY AMOUNT OF ICE MAKES DRIVING OR WALKING EXTREMELY
      HAZARDOUS. ICE STORMS PRODUCE OVER 1/4 INCH OF ICE 
      ACCUMULATION ON SURFACES. 
     -THE DANGER IN ICE STORMS IS EVEN GREATER IF STRONG WINDS
      ACCOMPANY THE STORM CAUSING TREE LIMBS AND WIRES TO FALL 
      AND IMPEDE TRAFFIC. AVOID TRAVEL DURING THESE CONDITIONS IF AT 
      ALL POSSIBLE.

...DENSE FOG...
ANOTHER VERY DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITION IS DENSE FOG. WHILE 
DENSE FOG CAN OCCUR IN EVERY MONTH SOMEWHERE IN WISCONSIN...IT IS 
ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN WINTER WHEN IT CAN PERSIST FOR MANY HOURS.

     -THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REPORTS AN AVERAGE 
      OF ABOUT 1200 VEHICLE ACCIDENTS OCCUR EACH YEAR DURING DENSE   
      FOG EPISODES. THESE ACCIDENTS RESULT IN A YEARLY AVERAGE OF    
      ABOUT 16 DEATHS AND 700 INJURIES. 
     -MOTORISTS SHOULD SLOW DOWN WHILE DRIVING THROUGH DENSE         
      FOG...TURN THEIR HEADLIGHTS ON...AND INCREASE THEIR TRAILING   
      DISTANCE BEHIND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WINTER WEATHER...VISIT...  http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/winter       https://weather.gov/mke/?n-winter-wx-awareness  https://readywisconsin.wi.gov  https://emergencymanagement.wi.gov