Prolonged cold presents potential dangers,
Broken pipes, frostbite, power outages possible into first week of 2018.
Bitterly cold weather is expected to stick around through the first week of January, creating the potential for problems such as power outages, frostbite and broken pipes.
“It is colder than normal for this time of year,” News Center 7 Meteorologist Kirstie Zontini said.
Low temperatures today will be in the low single digits with wind chills below zero. North of Interstate 70, drivers could see snow flurries in the morning. The high is expected to be about 20 degrees.
In the first 14 hours of Wednesday, AAA received more than 250 calls from Dayton-area drivers. Most of the calls were for dead batteries.
“Every degree the tempera- ture drops, car batteries lose more power,” AAA senior public and government affairs specialist Kara Hitchens said.
Also Wednesday, about 400 in Miamisburg were without electricity for several hours. A power line was severed and many were without heat.
In these frigid temperatures, frostbite can set in in less than 30 minutes, Zontini said.
The Ohio Department of Aging is asking people to check on older neighbors and loved ones.
“Older adults are at increased
risk for complications from conditions including snow, ice, bitter cold and more,” interim director of the Department of Aging Beverley Laubert said.
All Ohioans should have a winter preparedness plan, Laubert said. Elderly resi- dents may have additional things to consider when planning ahead, such as a back-up supply of daily medicines and access to medical equipment.
AAA also urged Ohioans to be prepared.
“We just want folks to plan ahead,” Hitchens said, “especially if they are going on a long trip.”
In weather like this, it is important to make sure tires are properly inflated, Hitch- ens said. Tires need more pressure when it is cold outside. Under-inflated tires are more likely to get a flat.
Car batteries last three to five years. Hitchens said if you plan on taking a trip in the new year and haven’t replaced your battery in the last three years, you may need to get it checked. It takes a car battery twice as much power to start in subzero temperatures, like the area is experiencing now.
Lastly, make a cold weather emergency kit and keep it in your car. Hitchens suggests putting extra clothes, a phone charger, a shovel or kitty litter for added tire traction in your kit.
If you’re driving over the weekend, snow showers on Friday could make roads slick.
Friday will still be cold, but it is looking to be the warmest day this week. Temperatures will start off in the low teens and climb to the mid-20s.
“There will be light snow on Friday. Not high accumulation, but it will stick because it has been so cold,” Zontini said.
Temperatures on New Year’s Eve will be back in the single digits with wind chills below zero. The high will be in the middle teens. Expect it to feel dry and cold.