Brace for major storm

SANDUSKY — Get ready for Round 2 of brutal cold weather, aiming to knock out much of Ohio and beyond these next few days. But area meteorologists forecast an even worse storm — prolonged cold periods mixed in with heavy snowfall — compared to the chilly temperatures experienced locally this past Sunday Monday and Tuesday. For several days now, Cleveland- and Toledo-area weather experts have warned people about frigid, arctic-like conditions. And, unlike earlier this week, people can expect several inches of snow to blanket the region. Among those sharing insights with the public are Ross Ellet, a meteorologist with 13abc in Toledo. On Thursday morning, at his Facebook page, he posted the latest models of a predicted storm impacting the greater Sandusky area along with neighboring communities and counties. He said excessive snowfall should start Saturday night, continue all throughout Sunday and end by around noon Monday. Because of this, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Erie, Huron and Sandusky counties, among others, during this three-day stretch. It's possible this watch could be expanded for additional counties. "It appears likely that most or all of Ohio will have at least 5 inches of snow with this storm," said Ellet, adding areas of southwestern Ohio could receive 1 foot of snow. He then addressed the cold and wind aspects. • Wind: "The wind speeds are expected to be light as snow begins, however, on Sunday the winds will increase to 10 (mph) to 15 mph out of the north to northeast with gusts to 25 mph in the afternoon. Winds will increase more on Monday with a west to northwest wind at 10 (mph) to 20 mph with 30 mph wind gusts. This will create a lot of blowing and drifting snow on the back end of the storm. The biggest reason for the drifting will be the fluffy snow." • Cold: "The cold will create a snowfall that has less moisture and less weight, so it can drift around easily. The cold is a concern by itself. The high is expected to peak at 14 (degrees) in Toledo during the storm with a wind chill below 0. Then, on Monday, the wind chill is forecast to reach minus 30 (degrees) with temperatures in the single digits to low 10s. This means that salt is not going to be very effective, and roads will remain snow-covered and icy much longer than we are used to in this part of the country." What it will feel like Also on Thursday, Ellet shared a temperature graphic incorporating wind chill aspects: • Friday morning — Real temperature 7 degrees, will feel like minus 15 degrees • Friday night — Real temperature 2 degrees, will feel like minus 22 degrees • Saturday morning — Real temperature minus 12 degrees, will feel like minus 20 degrees • Saturday night — Real temperature 6 degrees, will feel like minus 3 degrees • Sunday morning — Real temperature of 4 degrees, will feel like minus 11 degrees • Sunday night — Real temperature of 14 degrees, will feel like minus 1 degree • Monday morning — Real temperature of 0 degrees, will feel like minus 23 degrees • Monday night — Real temperature of 10 degrees, will feel like minus 9 degrees • Tuesday morning — Real temperature of minus 8 degrees, will feel like minus 26 degrees Ellet also reminded people to look out for signs of frostbite and hypothermia before entering what he called the "dangerous cold" periods. "The early signs of frostbite start as red and painful skin, but, oftentimes, those that get frostnip or full frostbite are unaware that they have it because their skin goes numb. The intense pain develops as the skin begins to thaw," said Ellet, stressing how people should cover all exposed skin when outside in this weather. He continued: "If skin begins to go numb or you notice grayish-yellow skin, you need to immediately get out of the cold. The CDC says hypothermia comes with a variety of symptoms, such as exhaustion, drowsiness, slurred speech, confusion, shaking and memory loss. If a person's temperature drops below 95 degrees, they need medical attention immediately." Humans aren't the only ones susceptible to frostbite. Animals are, too. In the past, during other cold bouts of weather, Ellet stressed how people need to bring in outdoor pets. And other indoor pets, like dogs and cats, should only go outside for the minimum amount required for bathroom purposes. Prepare a travel kit For those who must travel in this storm, they should carry a car winter survival kit with them. "Please keep this in mind if you plan on traveling this weekend, now is a good time to think of a backup plan," Ellet said. "If you must travel, it is best to pack a winter safety kit in your car with warm clothes, food and water," Ellet added. "You should fill up your car with gas (before Saturday) and make sure your tank is at least half full at all times. Not only is this helpful if you get stranded, but the cold weather can create mechanical issues for your car if you are low on gas." Here's what the National Weather Service recommends all drivers and passengers should keep in a car: • Flashlight and extra batteries • First aid kit • Snow shovel • Ice scraper with brush • Blankets and/or a sleeping bag • Non-perishable food, like granola bars or dried nuts • Bottled water • Booster cables • Extra clothing, like hats, mittens, parkas, boots • Sand/kitty litter for traction purposes • Cellphone charger • Flares/triangles or other bright objects What about food? With the possibility of people losing power during this winter storm, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently assembled a food safety checklist: • Monitor your fridge and freezer temps with appliance thermometers: 40 degrees or lower in the refrigerator and 0 degrees or lower in the freezer • Freeze water in small bags or containers to slot between foods, keeping cold in, but don't overfill; Water expands when it freezes. • Freeze leftovers, dairy and meats that you may not need immediately to keep them at a safe temperature longer • Have insulated coolers ready to safeguard refrigerator food in the event a power outage lasts more than four hours • Group food tightly together in the freezer; This igloo effect helps the food stay cold longer. • Keep a few days' worth of ready-to-eat foods that do not require cooking or cooling Posting about power As of midday Thursday, neither Ohio Edison nor its parent company, FirstEnergy — a primary electric provider for many locals — have provided updates pertaining to this upcoming storm. But it does have a page on its website, firstenergycorp.com/outages_help.html, providing people with real-time updates on how to report outages and where they're occurring. In the event locals lose power during this storm, they can visit FirstEnergy's site for updates. People should, however, "Call 911 immediately if you see a downed power line. Stay at least 30 feet away and instruct others to do the same."