This week the National Weather Service has issued not one, but two, special weather alerts highlighting what is expected to be a very active weather situation. The primary area of concern is west of I-65, but impacts will be felt throughout the state.
It is important for county officials to prepare for the impacts of this weather system.
The first concern is continued wind advisories with wind gusts of up to 40-50 mph possible as the forecasted cold front moves into the area.
Behind the wind are potential heavy rains with forecasts in some areas calling for 2” or more. Because of ground saturation, this increases the risk of flooding. As temperatures then plummet, the rain could potentially turn to snow, and though minimal accumulation is called for, high winds and snowfall can create whiteout conditions, impacting traffic safety along with the potential for black ice.
The most significant impact, however, is that following the precipitation forecasts show five to six days of below-freezing temperatures, with some areas seeing below-0 when accounting for the wind chill.
Freeze-prone infrastructure, such as plumbing, may be affected.
Counties should follow procedures outlined in the accompanying article from loss control to prevent damage from frozen, burst plumbing. In addition, vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and homeless, are at increased significant risk of adverse effects from weather.
A good plan, working together with emergency management, can make a world of difference if response is necessary due to weather events and increase positive outcomes for all.
