With the dangerously cold wind chill temperatures arriving tonight (Monday), the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) reminds everyone of tips to keep yourself, your house, and your pets safe. The coldest period is expected to reach the Carroll area around 9 p.m. Monday, with a predicted temperature of negative nine degrees below zero, with negative 28-degree windchill, dropping down to negative 31 degrees at times. The extreme cold warning is in effect until noon on Tuesday, making the morning commute to work bitter. For those needing to travel, the NWS advises commuters to pack a safety kit with blankets in emergencies, keep the gas tank half full, maintain tire pressure, and notify others of travel plans. Protect yourself against frostbite or hypothermia by dressing in layers and covering any exposed skin, as both conditions can set in within minutes of being outdoors. Frostbite signs include redness, skin pain, or skin that feels firm, waxy, and numb. Hypothermia has signs of shivering, exhaustion, and confusion in adults with bright red, cold skin, and very low energy in infants. Anyone showing any symptoms should remove wet clothing, try to warm up by dressing in layers, use warm water on frostbite skin, and seek medical help right away. Pets should also be monitored by limiting time outdoors, checking and covering paws, and bringing outdoor pets inside a shelter. NWS recommends checking the home’s CO detectors, monitoring the furnace, practicing space heater safety, and allowing faucets to drip to avoid pipes freezing. For more extreme cold weather safety tips, visit nationalweatherservice.gov.
