The Four P’s: Protecting Yourself & Others When It’s Cold

Winter has finally arrived in Middle Georgia!

Even though temperatures throughout much of this Winter have been above average, we’re in store for one cold weekend. A strong cold front will move across the state Saturday morning, bringing very gusty winds and much colder temperatures to the area.

Even though daily highs will be in the upper 40s and lower 50s on Saturday, wind chill values (How cold it feels to your skin) will be in the 30s. Winds gusting to 30 mph overnight on Saturday will make the twenties feel like the low teens and single digits!

Here are a few things to remember as we go throughout this windy and cold weekend!

The Four P’s: People, Pets, Plants, and Pipes…

1.) People: Check on your elderly friends and neighbors. The very young and the elderly face the highest risk when the mercury drops. For this reason, make a conscious effort to check on your elderly friends and neighbors. Is their heat working properly? If strong winds knock out the power to their home, do they need a place to stay warm?

2.) Pets: Bring your pets inside. If you’re cold, so is your pet. If the weather is uncomfortably cool for you, then your furry friend is going to feel the same way. Pets should be in a warm place, especially overnight.

3.) Plants: Cover your plants. It’s not even Valentine’s Day yet but temperatures this Winter have been VERY warm, and flowers are already blooming! If you have vegetation that you want to protect, do so before the cold arrives.

4.) Pipes: Protect your pipes. When temperatures drop into the twenties, we run the risk of our pipes bursting or freezing! If a home isn’t properly insulated or unheated, this can become a problem. Keeping your cabinet doors open allows the warm air from your home to keep the pipes warm. Dripping your faucet also keeps the water moving and lessens the liklihood that the pipes will freeze.

It’s not often that it gets sub-freezing in Middle Georgia, but when it does, you’ll be ready!

Our friends at NOAA have so much great information to keep you ready for winter. For a list of FAQ’s visit the Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services website by clicking here.