Winter Weather Awareness Week

Winter Weather Awareness Day

November 15, 2016

 

        November 15th will be observed as Winter Weather Awareness Day by the National Weather Service in Tennessee.

East Tennessee, southwest Virginia, and southwest North Carolina experience it's share of snow, sleet, and ice. One of the best things to do before each winter season is prepare for any winter weather that can occur. Through winter weather awareness week, there will be new topics on winter weather, including products the National Weather Service issues, safety during winter weather, and different winter precipitaiton types. Please take a moment to read the material, so you can learn more about winter weather, the National Weather Service, and how to avoid dangerous situations.

 

 

 

 

 

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National Weather Service Winter Products

The following are a list of products issued by the National Weather Service for winter weather events. Each product is issued when conditions reach the criteria listed, or the meteorologist decides conditions outside of the criteria warrant that specific product.

 

 Winter Weather Advisory:

 

Meaning	Issued to advise of inconvenient or potentially dangerous winter conditions that are not severe enough to meet criteria for a warning, and if caution is not exercised, coud be life threatening.
Criteria	1-3 inches of snow in 12 hours and/or ice accumulation less than 1/4 of an inch

 

Winter Storm Watch:

 

Meaning	Dangerous winter weather is possible, and you need to be alert to the weather and any changing conditions, as well as avoiding any unneccessary travel. At this stage you need to make preparations for winter weather, and have a safety plan in place.
Criteria	At least a 50/50 chance that warning criteria (4+ inches of snow in 12 hours, and/or ice accumulations of greater than 1/4 an inch) will be met in the next 12 to 24 hours

 

Winter Storm Warning:

 

Meaning	Severe winter weather has begun or is about to begin in your area. Warnings are issued for conditions posing a threat to life and property. At this stage, you should implement your safety plan, and be prepared for further weather changes.
Criteria	4 or more inches of snow in at least 12 hours, and/or ice accumulations of greater than 1/4 of an inch

       

 

Wind Chill Advisory:

 

Meaning	Issued to advise of inconvenient or potentially dangerous winter conditions that are not severe enough to meet criteria for a warning, and if caution is not exercised, coud be life threatening.
Criteria	-5 to -14 degrees and windws >= 10 mph for 3 hours or more

 

Wind Chill Warning:

 

Meaning	Severe winter weather has begun or is about to begin in your area. Warnings are issued for conditions posing a threat to life and property. At this stage, you should implement your safety plan, and be prepared for further weather changes.
Criteria	-15 degrees or less and winds >= 10 mph for 3 hours or more

 

 

Ice Storm Warning:

 

Meaning	Severe winter weather has begun or is about to begin in your area. Warnings are issued for conditions posing a threat to life and property. At this stage, you should implement your safety plan, and be prepared for further weather changes.
Criteria	0.25 inch or more of ice in 12 hours

 

 

Blizzard Warning:

 

Meaning	Severe winter weather has begun or is about to begin in your area. Warnings are issued for conditions posing a threat to life and property. At this stage, you should implement your safety plan, and be prepared for further weather changes.
Criteria	visibility frequently < 1/4 mile, wind sustained or frequent gusts 35 mph for 3 hours

 

 

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Winter Weather Safety for Snow and Ice

There are several ways to stay safe during severe weather events. Knowing what snow, ice, and wind can do, and knowing how to prepare, can help you avoid dangerous, life threatening situations.

Heavy Snow:

Heavy snow can immobilize a region and paralyze a city, stranding commuters, closing airports, stopping the flow of supplies, and disrupting emergency and medical services. Accumulations of snow can cause roofs to collapse and knock down trees and power lines. Homes and farms may be isolated for days and unprotected pets and livestock may be lost.

 

Injuries Due to Ice and Snow                   - About 70% result from vehicle accidents           - About 25% occur in people caught out in a storm

 

 Ice:

 Heavy accumulations of ice can bring down trees and topple utility poles and communicaiton towers. Ice can disrupt communications and power for days while utility companies repair extensive damage. Even small accumulations of ice can be extremely dangerous to motorists and pedestrians. Bridges and overpasses are particularly dangerous because they freeze before other surfaces.

 

 

Be Prepared!

 

At Home & Work	In Vehicles	On the Farm/Pets
Concerns are loss of heat, power and telephone service, and a shortage of supplies should the storm continue for more than a day. Have available: Flashlight and extra batteries Battery powered NOAA Weather Radio and portable radio to receive emergency  information. These may be your only links to outside information. Extra food and water. Have high energy food, such as dried fruit, nuts, and granola bars, and food requiring no cooking or refrigeration. Extra medicine and baby items First-aid supplies Heating fuel. Refuel before you are empty. Fuel carriers may not reach you for days after a winter storm. Emergency heat source: fireplace, wood stove, or space heater. Use these properly to prevent a fire. VENTILATE PROPERLY. Fire extinguisher, smoke alarm. Test smoke alarms once a month to ensure they work properly. Make sure pets have plenty of food, water, and shelter	Plan your travel and check the latest weather reports to avoid the storm! Fully check your vehicle before the winter season begins. IF you have to travel, carry a WINTER STORM SURVIVAL KIT: Mobile phone, charger, batteries Blankets/Sleeping bags Flashlight with extra batteries First-aid kit Knife High-calorie, non-perishable food Extra clothing to keep dry Large empty can to use as emergency toilet. Tissues and paper towels for sanitary purposes Small can and waterproof matches to melt snow for drinking water Sack of sand or cat litter for foundation Shovel Windshield scraper and brush Tool kit Tow rope Battery booster cables Water container Compass and road maps. Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines. Avoid traveling alone. Let someone know your timetable and primary and alternate routes.	Move animals to sheltered areas. Shelter belts, properly laid out and oriented, are better protection for cattle than confining shelters, such as sheds. Haul extra feed to nearby feeding areas. Have water available. Most animals die from dehydration in winter storms. Make sure pets have plenty of food, water, and shelter.

 

 

 Dress for the Season:

Wear loose, lightweight, warm clothes in layers. Trapped air insulates. Remove layers to avoid perspiration and subsequent chill. Outer garments should be tightly woven, water repellent, and hooded. Wear a hat because half your body heat loss can be from the head. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs from extreme cold. Mittens, snug at the writs, are better than gloves. Try to stay dry.

 

If Caught Outside in a Winter Storm!

 

Outside	In a Vehicle	Inside
Find shelter: Try to stay dry. Cover all exposed body parts. If there is no shelter: Build a lean-to, windbreak or snow cave for protection from the wind. Build a fire for heat and to attract attention. Place rocks around the fire to absorb and reflect heat. Melt snow for drinking water: Eating snow will lower your body temperature	Stay in vehicle: You could become quickly disoriented Run the motor only about 10 minutes each hour for heat. Open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Make sure the exhaust pipe is not blocked. Be visible to rescuers: Turn on the dome light at night when running the engine. Tie a colored cloth, preferrably red, to your antenna or door. After snow stops falling, raise the hood to indicate you need help. Exercise: From time to time, move arms, legs, fingers, and toes vigorously to keep blood circulating and to keep warm.	Stay inside: When using alternate heat from a fireplace, wood stove, space heater, etc., use fire safeguards and properly ventilate. If there is no heat source: Close off unneeded rooms Stuff towels or rags in cracks under doors. Cover windows at night Eat and drink. Food provides the body with energy for producing it's own heat. Keep t he body replenished with fluids to prevent dehydration. Wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Remove layers to avoid overheating, perspiration, and subsequent chill.

 

 Avoid overextertion:

Exertion, such as shoveling heavy snow, pushing a car or walking in deep snow, the strain from the cold and the hard labor may cause a heart attack. Sweating could lead to a chill and hypothermia. Take Red Cross Cardiopulminary Rescue (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training so you can respond quickly to an emergency.

 

Have a plan!:

Make sure you have a plan for you and your family. This includes emergency numbers, knowing when and how to get home and to loved ones, checking on friends and family to make sure they are okay (especially elderly), having a disaster preparedness kit, and making sure PETS are inside and out of the cold.

 

Disaster Supply Kit:

Much like a severe weather preparedness kit, a disaster kit should have the following:

 

 

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Winter Weather Safety for Cold and Injuries

 

Cold:

Exposure to cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and become life-threatening. Infants and elderly people are most susceptible. Freezing temperatures can cause severe damge to citrus fruit crops and other vegetation. Pipes may freeze and burst in homes that are poorly insulated or without heat.

Wind chill:

Wind chill is NOT the actual temperature, but rather how wind and cold feel exposed on the skin. As the wind increases heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the body temperature. Animals are also affected by wind chill; however, cars, plants, and other objects are not. The wind chill chart below shows what the temperatures feel like to the skin, when the air temperature and wind is combined.

 

 

 Frostbite:

Frostbite is damage to the body tissue caused by extreme cold. A wind chill of -20 degrees Fahrenheit will cause frostbite in just 30 minutes. Frostbite causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in extremitites, such as fingers, toes, ear lobes, or the tip of the nose.

If symptoms are detected, get medical help immediately! If you must wait for help, slowly rewarm affected areas. However, if the person is also showing signs of hypothermia, warm the body core before extremities.

 

Hypothermia:

Hypothermia is a condition brought on when the body temperature drops to less than 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It can kill. For those who survive, there are likely to be lasting kidney, liver, and pancreas problems.

Warning signs include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion. Seek medical care immediately!

 

If Medical Care is Not Available:

Warm the person slowly, starting with the body core. Warming the arms and legs first drives cold blood toward the heart and can lead to heart failure. Get the person into dry clothing and wrap in a warm blanket covering the head and neck. Do not give the prson alcohhol, drugs, coffee, or any hot beverage or food. Warm broth is the first food to offer.

 

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Winter Weather Elements

During the winter months, precipitation often falls as snow, sleet, or freezing rain. But what's the difference between those three? The big factor involves how much heat is located throughout the atmosphere.

In the winter months, snow forms in the clouds. As that snow starts to fall towards the ground, if the snow does not move into air warmer than 32 degrees, the snow will remain in it's form, and reach the ground as snow. In other words, if the atmosphere is below 32 degrees from the ground, to the cloud, the snow will not melt.

If the snow starts to fall, and moves through air that is above 32 degrees, that snow will melt in to water. This water that is now falling, if it refreezes BEFORE it reaches the surface, it is called sleet. Sleet will appear to be little balls of ice that bounce off the ground. 

If the water makes it down to the surface, as water, but the surface is below 32 degrees, the water that reaches the surface will freeze on contact, and that is known as freezing rain. 

The graph below shows the difference as snow falls through the atmosphere. Below the clouds, that is snow that is falling. You can see the difference the warm air makes in deciding the precipitation type.

 

 

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 Common Links:

 The following links will teach more about winter weather events, and how to be prepared.

From the Red Cross:

https://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/winter-storm

From FEMA:

https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather