Cold as You

While we don't have any snow on the ground here in Nashville (Thank goodness!), we are experiencing some cold weather. I almost feel like I'm back in Indiana. I hope you all are staying safe and warm.

ARTIC AIR HEADS TOWARDS MIDDLE TENNESSEE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Bitterly cold temperatures are headed for middle Tennessee, and cold weather safety will be a must for residents.

The edge of a large and frigid, arctic, high-pressure system will enter the mid-state late Wednesday and then spread across the area through Saturday morning. Low temperatures will drop into the teens Wednesday night but will plunge to between zero and five degrees Thursday night. Meteorologist Tim Ross said high temperatures will not get out of the low 20s in Nashville on Thursday and Friday. Some of the normally colder locations could see readings slip a few degrees below zero. Wind chill readings will range between zero and ten below zero Thursday through Saturday morning.

The Channel 4 Pinpoint Weather Team is predicting a low temperature Friday morning of two degrees in Nashville. The existing record for Friday morning (Jan. 16) is minus 6 degrees, which occurred in 1982. Temperatures this cold can pose a number of dangers; most importantly, it can seriously affect health. Extended exposure to bitter cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia.
If possible, stay indoors. If you have to go outside, limit your time in the cold and bundle up with a coat, cap, and gloves. Check on the elderly to make sure they have adequate heat, and bring pets indoors as much as possible. Exposed water pipes will also be at risk of bursting. However, residents can reduce the risk, by insulating pipes with dry material and leaving a thin, trickle, of water running at indoor faucets. Locate your shut-off valve so that you can turn your water off quickly, if your pipes should break.

Be very careful when using space heaters, and be sure smoke detectors are in good working condition. A Nebraska man recently died when he placed a space heater too close to combustible materials before going to bed. After the temperatures drop below the freezing mark Wednesday night, they are not expected to warm back above freezing until Saturday afternoon.