It is Winter Weather Awareness Week and the National Weather Service in Paducah is putting out the word on getting ready for wintry weather now instead of waiting for it to arrive.
In a Facebook Live event Tuesday night, officials and forecasters from across the area got together to give tips on how to prepare for winter weather, what to watch for in the forecasts and more as we head deeper into meteorological winter. Warning Coordination Meteorologist Christine Wielgos says she knows no one is really thinking of wintry weather yet, but this area typically doesn’t see snow or ice until close to January or later.
While everyone loves a little bit of snow, unfortunately for this region, that also typically comes with ice—Jennifer Rukavina with WPSD says it’s the ice that has the worst impacts on the roads, especially if it’s patchy in nature.
Keith Todd with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet urged caution on the roads no matter the impacts—as ice and especially black ice can catch anyone by surprise, even those with four-wheel drive.
Wielgos says as the chance for winter weather comes back around, make sure you’re getting your information from reliable sources.
People are advised to take the time now to create emergency kits for your vehicles, in the event you become stranded on the roadway during cold temperatures, and know the signs of both hypothermia and frostbite. Also encouraged is winterizing your home to take care of sensitive pipes and other fixture, and outdoor animals should be prepared, provided with warm and dry shelter, along with plenty of food and fresh, not frozen, water.