NWS: Possible Coastal Storm Mid-Week

 

Source CDC

 

 

# 6694

 

As I mentioned on Thursday (see A Worrisome Mid-Week Forecast), computer models are increasingly indicating a coastal storm/Nor’easter for the Mid-Atlantic & New England states later this week.

 

Not only will this increase the misery factor for residents and rescue workers dealing with the aftermath of Sandy, for those without power or heat temperatures and wind chills may drop dangerously low.

 

This is the latest Hazardous Weather Outlook from the New York NWS, issued early this morning:

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
339 AM EST SUN NOV 4 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT...NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY AND SOUTHEAST NEW YORK.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

TEMPERATURES TONIGHT ARE EXPECTED TO FALL INTO THE 20S AND 30S.

THOSE WITHOUT POWER SHOULD PLAN FOR ANOTHER COLD NIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.

LOW TEMPERATURES MONDAY NIGHT ARE EXPECTED TO FALL INTO THE 20S.

THOSE WITHOUT POWER SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR ANOTHER COLD NIGHT.

THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A COASTAL STORM TO IMPACT THE TRI-STATE REGION WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.

THIS STORM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BRING STRONG GUSTY WINDS...RAIN/WINTRY PRECIPITATION...COASTAL FLOODING AND ADDITIONAL BEACH EROSION TO THE TRI-STATE AREA.

STAY TUNED FOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

 

 

The 7 day forecast for Newark, NJ gives a pretty good idea of the expected progression of the weather.

 

The concern here isn’t just for the cold, for every year we get tragic reports of people who either started a house fire, or succumbed to Carbon Monoxide poisoning, while trying to heat their homes during a power outage.

 

The sources of CO are numerous; faulty furnaces, snow blocked car exhaust pipes, attempts to use generators inside the house or garage . . . and the use of CO producing emergency heat sources all contribute to the winter body count.

 

The CDC’s MMWR released a report in 2005 called Unintentional Non--Fire-Related Carbon Monoxide Exposures --- United States, 2001—2003 that stated:

 

During 2001--2003, an estimated 15,200 persons with confirmed or possible non--fire-related CO exposure were treated annually in hospital EDs. In addition, during 2001--2002, an average of 480 persons died annually from non--fire-related CO poisoning. Although males and females were equally likely to visit an ED for CO exposure, males were 2.3 times more likely to die from CO poisoning. Most (64%) of the nonfatal CO exposures occurred in homes. Efforts are needed to educate the public about preventing CO exposure.

 

The CDC maintains a webpage on Carbon Monoxide, which you can access here, and has this short video on what they call the `quiet killer’.

 

 

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Hypothermia, Frostbite & The Big Chill

 

 

 

# 5139

 

 

 

While it may not elicit a lot of sympathy from my good buddies up in Minnesota (who are digging out after one heck of a blizzard), the wind chill temps this morning here in central Florida are lower than can be found in many parts of Maine, Montana, and Wyoming.

 

 

Single digit wind-chill temps this morning (and we are talking Fahrenheit, folks) extend down to central Georgia and Alabama.

 

Although hardly the makings of an epic disaster, for the deep south, this is a deep freeze.

 

While those who live in northern climes are probably used to the drill, southerners - who normally don’t have to think about hypothermia or frostbite - are well advised to remember the hazards.

 

 

The combination of wind and ambient temperatures produce a wind-chill temperature – or how cold it really feels. Tonight, in Ocala, Florida, the low temperature is expected to be 20 degrees and winds are forecast to be 10 mph.

Combined, that’s a wind chill of 9°F degrees.

Plenty cold enough to induce hypothermia, or even cause frostbite, in unprotected individuals.

 

So today a few excerpts from the CDC’s  Winter Weather recommendations on avoiding and treating hypothermia and frost bite.  

Follow the links to read them in their entirety.

 

 

Winter Weather: Hypothermia

When exposed to cold temperatures, your body begins to lose heat faster than it can be produced. Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy.

The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature. Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia particularly dangerous because a person may not know it is happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.

 

Recognizing Hypothermia

Warnings signs of hypothermia:

Adults:

• shivering, exhaustion
• confusion, fumbling hands
• memory loss, slurred speech
• drowsiness

Infants:

• bright red, cold skin
• very low energy

What to Do

If you notice any of these signs, take the person’s temperature. If it is below 95°, the situation is an emergency—get medical attention immediately.

If medical care is not available, begin warming the person, as follows:

• Get the victim into a warm room or shelter.
• If the victim has on any wet clothing, remove it.
• Warm the center of the body first—chest, neck, head, and groin—using an electric blanket, if available. Or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets.
• Warm beverages can help increase the body temperature, but do not give alcoholic beverages. Do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person.
• After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck.
• Get medical attention as soon as possible.

Winter Weather: Frostbite

 

Recognizing Frostbite

At the first signs of redness or pain in any skin area, get out of the cold or protect any exposed skin—frostbite may be beginning. Any of the following signs may indicate frostbite:

• a white or grayish-yellow skin area
• skin that feels unusually firm or waxy
• numbness

A victim is often unaware of frostbite until someone else points it out because the frozen tissues are numb.

What to Do

If you detect symptoms of frostbite, seek medical care. Because frostbite and hypothermia both result from exposure, first determine whether the victim also shows signs of hypothermia, as described previously. Hypothermia is a more serious medical condition and requires emergency medical assistance.

If (1) there is frostbite but no sign of hypothermia and (2) immediate medical care is not available, proceed as follows:

• Get into a warm room as soon as possible.
• Unless absolutely necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes—this increases the damage.
• Immerse the affected area in warm—not hot—water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch for unaffected parts of the body).
• Or, warm the affected area using body heat. For example, the heat of an armpit can be used to warm frostbitten fingers.
• Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all. This can cause more damage.
• Don’t use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming. Affected areas are numb and can be easily burned.

These procedures are not substitutes for proper medical care. Hypothermia is a medical emergency and frostbite should be evaluated by a health care provider. It is a good idea to take a first aid and emergency resuscitation (CPR) course to prepare for cold-weather health problems. Knowing what to do is an important part of protecting your health and the health of others.

 

Finally, the CDC has put together all of their Winter Weather advice into a single PDF file which you can download at the link below.

 

Extreme Cold Prevention Guide (3.45 MB/15 pages)

 

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Cold Weather Car Bag

 

 

 

# 5130

 

 

This second week of December has brought an icy blast deep into the southland, with sub-freezing temperatures (and even snow flurries) all the way down to the Gulf coast.

 

This morning’s wind chill map gives you some idea of just how cold it is across the country.   In some places, even in the south, roads are slick and icy.

 

 

Aside from having your car winterized to cope with these extreme temperatures, you should also make sure your auto is equipped with cold weather emergency supplies, in addition to the emergency kit you should be carrying all year round.

 

The CDC recommends you equip your automobile with the following items to deal with cold weather emergencies.

 

Car and Emergency Checklist

Prepare your car with emergency supplies.

Cell phone; portable charger and extra batteries

Shovel

Windshield scraper

Battery-powered radio (and extra batteries)

Flashlight (and extra batteries)

Water

Snack food

Extra hats, coats, mittens

Blankets

Chains or rope

Tire chains

Canned compressed air with sealant (emergency tire repair)

Road salt and sand

Booster cables

Emergency flares

Bright colored flag; help signs

First aid kit

Tool kit

Road maps

Compass

Waterproof matches and a can (to melt snow for water)

Paper towels

 

 

You’ll find more information on dealing with extreme winter weather in the CDC’s pdf file called:

 

 

You don’t have to live in the frozen tundra to risk hypothermia, or other cold weather hazards.

 

Which is why – even though I don’t need the snow chains - every fall I add an extra Jacket, hat, gloves, and blanket to the extended emergency kit in my car . . .  even down here in `sunny’ Florida.

 

Preparing is easy.  Worrying is hard.

 

 

For more information on emergency preparedness you can click this link, to see some of my preparedness articles, or you can visit the following websites.

 

FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm

READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/

AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/

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