Full Notification

Heavy snow is expected with total snow accumulations of 5 to 8 inches possible for our area.

The precipitation should begin as light rain this afternoon before changing to mostly snow this evening, continuing into Wednesday. Heavy, wet snow with snowfall rates of up to 1 inch per hour are likely from midday Wednesday into Wednesday evening.

Expect difficult travel conditions, especially during the evening commute on Wednesday. Be prepared for significant reductions in visibility at times. Wind gusts up to 35 mph are possible. This, combined with the heavy, wet snow, make it likely that trees and power lines could be brought down, resulting in power outages.

These factors will make travel very hazardous or impossible. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

In anticipation of the winter storm, it is essential that residents remove vehicles from the roadways so that crews can safely clear snow and ice and to allow for the uninterrupted delivery of emergency services.
Vehicles parked on snow covered roadways will be ticketed and may be towed at the owner’s expense. Also, if there’s a fire hydrant on or near your property, clear the snow from on and around it – provided that you can do it safely.

Also, the increased workload on the heart from activities such as shoveling heavy snow puts people with existing heart conditions like heart failure, high blood pressure or cholesterol at higher risk for heart attack. To help make snow removal safer, the American Heart Association has compiled a list of practical tips.
• Give yourself a break. Take frequent rest breaks during shoveling so you don’t overstress your heart. Pay attention to how your body feels during those breaks.
• Don’t eat a heavy meal prior or soon after shoveling. Eating a large meal can put an extra load on your heart.
• Use a small shovel or consider a snow thrower. The act of lifting heavy snow can raise blood pressure acutely during the lift. It is safer to lift smaller amounts more times, than to lug a few huge shovelfuls of snow. When possible, simply push the snow.
• Learn the heart attack warning signs and listen to your body, but remember this: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms). Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1
• Don’t drink alcoholic beverages before or immediately after shoveling. Alcohol may increase a person’s sensation of warmth and may cause them to underestimate the extra strain their body is under in the cold.
• Consult a doctor. If you have a medical condition, don’t exercise on a regular basis or are middle aged or older, meet with your doctor prior to the first anticipated snowfall.
• Be aware of the dangers of hypothermia. Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia. To prevent hypothermia, dress in layers of warm clothing, which traps air between layers forming a protective insulation. Wear a hat because much of your body’s heat can be lost through your head.
• If you are out of shape or worried about your heart, hire a teenage neighbor. He or she could use the money, and probably the exercise.