We have had some cold and windy days since the last issue of this newspaper was distributed but we expect this week’s real weather story will come between the time this issue is printed and the delivery.
As we went to press Tuesday afternoon local public health and National Weather Service officials are encouraging residents to be prepared for cold weather this week. “Nebraska weather can be unpredictable,” said Erik Meyer, emergency preparedness and response coordinator for the South Heartland District Health Department (SHDHD). “But we are expecting dangerous wind chills and blowing snow this week, so we urge South Heartland residents to plan ahead if you will need to be outside or will need to travel,” Meyer said.
According to Shawn Rossi, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hastings, residents of our primary circulation area can expect wind chills we haven’t experienced in more than 30 years. “The combination of winds gusting to near 50 MPH at times along with unseasonably cold temperatures will result in wind chills falling to between 30 and 50 degrees below zero both Thursday and Friday. Wind chills this cold can cause frostbite in a matter of minutes, and precautions will need to be taken to prevent frostbite and hypothermia for those venturing outdoors. In addition to the extreme cold, anywhere from 1 to 4 inches of snow are possible Wednesday night through Thursday morning, which combined with the strong winds could result in near blizzard like conditions. The coldest temperatures will be Thursday morning, with a return to near normal temperatures expected by Christmas Day.”
Meyer recommends knowing the forecast and preparing yourself and others to match the forecast. “Be sure to dress for the entire day, not just the warmest part, and take extra precautions for the predicted dangerous windchills,” he said. “Don’t get caught not wearing enough protection.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov/disasters/winter) provides tips to prepare for winter weather, including:
Dress warmly and limit exposure to the cold to prevent frostbite
Avoid getting wet to prevent hypothermia
Make sure your car is ready for winter travel
Make winter emergency kits to keep in your car and in your home
Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your home and make sure the batteries are working
Frostbite and hypothermia are serious health conditions. Frostbite is a bodily injury caused by freezing which results in loss of feeling and color in affected areas. It most often affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, or toes. Frostbite can permanently damage the body, and severe cases can lead to amputation.
Hypothermia is abnormally low body temperature, which is a dangerous condition that can occur when a person is exposed to extremely cold temperatures. Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well.
Meyer said taking preventive action is your best defense against having to deal with extreme cold-weather conditions. “By preparing your home and car in advance for winter emergencies, and by observing safety precautions during times of extremely cold weather, you can reduce the risk of weather-related health problems,” he said.
The high temperature for the week was 43.3 degrees recorded on Sunday. The low 3 degrees on Tuesday morning.
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