Subzero blast hits tonight; snow totals across the county top 22 inches
NC GAZETTE / WBRT RADIO
STAFF REPORT
Dusty, owned by Philip and Vandra Reid of Botland, takes advantage of the freshly plowed driveway to return to the house. Click image to enlarge.
Thursday, March 5, 2015, 5 p.m. — The Ohio Valley faces a bitter, subzero blast tonight as temperatures are expected to hit 19 degrees below zero.
The National Weather Service expects urban areas to see subzero temperatures in the Ohio Valley, with lower temperatures in rural areas.
Friday will be sunny and cold, with a high near 20. Southwest winds later in the day will drive wind chill values as low as -28 degrees. Friday night’s low is 9 above. A gradual warming trend begins Sunday, with a high of 36 degrees and warming temperatures expected next week, with a high of 36 on Saturday and near 43 on Sunday.
This photo was submitted via Facebook by a Deatsville Road resident: “My son put a bowl out yesterday to catch snow for ice cream. Can you see it?” Click image to enlarge.
The freezing cold comes on the heels of a record-breaking snowfall that dumped 18 to 24 inches of snow across Nelson County. Wind gusts of up to 20 mph created snow drifts up to four feet deep in some areas, making roadways impassable without the assistance of a snow plow.
Nelson County Gazette Facebook page visitors reported snowfall totals from various points in the county:
- Culvertown – 15 inches
- Maywood – 21 inches
- Miller Springs – about 20 inches
- East Flaget Ave. – 20 inches
- Pembrooke Drive – 22 inches
- Plum Run Road – 27 inches
- Springhill Drive – 20 inches
- Boston – 21 inches
- Cox’s Creek – 20 inches
- New Hope – 22 inches
FLOODING IN BOSTON. The National Weather Service’s flood warning for the Rolling Fork River near Boston will continue through Sunday afternoon.
The Rolling Fork at Boston was at 36.3 feet, more than a foot over flood stage of 35 feet. Minor flooding is ongoing in low-lying areas. The river level is expected to rise to 41.3 feet by Friday evening before falling below flood stage sometime Sunday. Floodwaters are expected to cover low spots on some county roads in low-lying areas.
TIPS TO AVOID FROZEN WATER PIPES. Tonight’s subzero temperatures may freeze water lines under your home in unprotected areas. The American Red Cross offers these tips to prevent frozen pipes:
— Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
— Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
— When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe – even at a trickle – helps prevent pipes from freezing.
— Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
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