...GET READY...
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...WIND CHILLS... THE DANGER OF COLD AIR IS MORE INTENSE IN WINTER WHEN THE WIND IS BLOWING. STRONG WINDS CAUSE A PRONOUNCED INCREASE IN THE CHILLING EFFECT OF LOW TEMPERATURES.
-IN A 5 MPH WIND...A TEMPERATURE OF ZERO BECOMES THE EQUIVALENT OF 11 BELOW ZERO. -INCREASE THOSE WINDS TO 30 MPH AND THE EFFECT WOULD BE EQUAL TO A FRIGID MINUS 26 DEGREES.
PROTECTION AGAINST FROST BITE IS NECESSARY IN THIS TYPE OF WIND DRIVEN COLD. REMEMBER...EXPOSED SKIN CAN FREEZE IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.
...YOUR VEHICLE... MAKE SURE YOUR CAR IS WINTERIZED FOR THE SEASON. MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT TIRE TREAD AND THAT BRAKES...LIGHTS...BATTERY... EXHAUST...HEAT AND DEFROSTER...AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ALL IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. KEEP YOUR GASOLINE TANK FULL.
HAVE ON HAND A FLASH LIGHT...JUMPER CABLES...SHOVEL...SNOW BRUSH... ICE SCRAPER...SAND OR KITTY LITER...WARM CLOTHING...AND A FIRST AID KIT. FOR LONG TRIPS ADD FOOD...WATER AND MEDICATION. HAVE A CELL PHONE AND KEEP YOUR NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR CAR RADIO TUNED FOR THE LATEST WINTER STORM INFORMATION. DON/T LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE IF YOU ARE MAROONED IN A WINTER STORM. IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING...STAY IN YOUR CAR AND WAIT FOR HELP. RUN THE ENGINE SPARINGLY TO KEEP WARM...BUT BE SURE TO OPEN A DOWNWIND WINDOW SLIGHTLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON AND KEEP THE EXHAUST PIPE CLEAR OF SNOW. TIE A COLORED CLOTH TO THE RADIO ANTENNA OR HANG IT OUT OF A WINDOW AND SHINE THE DOME LIGHT.
...FREEZING RAIN... SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS IN WINTER STORMS OCCUR WITH FREEZING RAIN. FREEZING RAIN OCCURS WHEN SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE AT OR BELOW 32 DEGREES AND RAIN FREEZES UPON IMPACT TO EXPOSED OBJECTS. -ANY AMOUNT OF ICE MAKES DRIVING OR WALKING EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS. ICE STORMS PRODUCE OVER 1/4 INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION ON SURFACES. -THE DANGER IN ICE STORMS IS EVEN GREATER IF STRONG WINDS ACCOMPANY THE STORM CAUSING TREE LIMBS AND WIRES TO FALL AND IMPEDE TRAFFIC. AVOID TRAVEL DURING THESE CONDITIONS IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
...DENSE FOG... ANOTHER VERY DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITION IS DENSE FOG. WHILE DENSE FOG CAN OCCUR IN EVERY MONTH SOMEWHERE IN WISCONSIN...IT IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS IN WINTER WHEN IT CAN PERSIST FOR MANY HOURS.
-THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REPORTS AN AVERAGE OF ABOUT 1200 VEHICLE ACCIDENTS OCCUR EACH YEAR DURING DENSE FOG EPISODES. THESE ACCIDENTS RESULT IN A YEARLY AVERAGE OF ABOUT 16 DEATHS AND 700 INJURIES. -MOTORISTS SHOULD SLOW DOWN WHILE DRIVING THROUGH DENSE FOG...TURN THEIR HEADLIGHTS ON...AND INCREASE THEIR TRAILING DISTANCE BEHIND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THEM.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WINTER WEATHER...VISIT... http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/winter https://weather.gov/mke/?n-winter-wx-awareness https://readywisconsin.wi.gov https://emergencymanagement.wi.gov