Friday, December 6, 2013

Frederick County Preparing for Winter Weather

 
Winter Storm Watch
 
 
**WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY MORNING**
 
 
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY MORNING.
 
  * PRECIPITATION TYPE...SNOW AND SLEET WILL CHANGE OVER TO FREEZING RAIN SUNDAY AFTERNOON. FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED TO LAST UNTIL LATE SUNDAY NIGHT OR MONDAY MORNING BEFORE CHANGING TO RAIN.
 
* ACCUMULATIONS...1 TO 2 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET AND A QUARTER INCH OR MORE OF ICE ACCUMULATION IS POSSIBLE.
 
* TIMING...SNOW AND SLEET ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN SUNDAY MORNING. A CHANGEOVER TO FREEZING RAIN IS EXPECTED MIDDAY SUNDAY AND WILL CONTINUE INTO THE NIGHT BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO RAIN LATE SUNDAY NIGHT OR MONDAY MORNING.
 
* TEMPERATURES...AROUND 30 DEGREES.
 
* WINDS...LIGHT NORTHERLY WINDS.
 
* IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS ARE PROBABLE DUE TO SLICK ROADS AND ICY CONDITIONS SUNDAY AND POSSIBLY INTO MONDAY. INCREASED POWER OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE.
 
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW...SLEET...AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS

Some helpful safety tips from the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services:

When possible, avoid travel during snow and ice events. If you must drive during these types of weather incidences adhere to the suggestions below:

  1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
  2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
  3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
  4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
  5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
  6. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
  7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
  8. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
  9. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.
If your rear wheels skid...
  1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
  2. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
  3. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
  4. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.
  5. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS), do not pump the brakes. Apply steady pressure to the brakes. You will feel the brakes pulse — this is normal.
If you encounter an emergency incident..
  1.  Slow down and move over.
  2.  Pay attention to the activity in your driving lane and any directions that are given by traffic control personnel (fire police, law enforcement and/or highway workers).
Have an safe and enjoyable weekend.  Happy Holidays from Frederick County DFRS.
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