Heavy snow, frigid temps predicted

Van Wert independent/various sources

Forecasters are predicting a significant snowfall for northwest Ohio this weekend, while the area is also expected to see what could be the coldest temperatures of the winter so far.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for Van Wert County from 1 a.m. Sunday until 1 a.m. Monday. The NWS is calling for heavy and blowing snow during the period, with light snow expected to begin late this evening. Snow is expected to continue into Sunday evening, with snowfall heavy at times. The weather service has said 8-12 inches of snow is possible through Sunday night and has also called for winds of up to 30 miles per hour by Sunday evening, which should cause blowing and drifting of the snow. Visibility could be reduced to a quarter mile or less as wind speeds increase.

In addition to heavy snow, the NWS has also issued a wind-chill warning for the period and has predicted that temperatures will plunge into minus numbers, with temps of minus-7 to minus 17 degrees forecast by Sunday night. Coupled with the high winds, wind chills could be somewhere between 30 and 45 below zero from Sunday night through Tuesday.

Anyone outside for an extended period of time should dress warmly and in layers, with the NWS noting that frostbite and hypothermia can occur in a matter of minutes if precautions are not taken.

The weather service is requesting that people only travel in the event of an emergency, and that motorists who must do so keep an extra flashlight, as well as food and water, in their vehicles.

For those inside, the World Health Organization recommends keeping indoor temperatures between 64 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit for healthy people. The minimum temperature should be kept above 68 degrees Fahrenheit to protect the very young, the elderly, or people with health problems.

Watch out for signs of hypothermia. Early signs of hypothermia in adults include shivering, confusion, memory loss, drowsiness, exhaustion and slurred speech. Infants who are suffering from hypothermia may appear to have very low energy and bright red, cold skin.

When outside, take extra precautions to reduce the risk of hypothermia and frostbite. In high wind conditions, such as those predicted for the area over the weekend and into next week, cold weather-related health problems are much more likely.

Be sure the outer layer of clothing is tightly woven to reduce body-heat loss caused by wind. Those who will be spending time outside should not ignore shivering, which is an important first sign that the body is losing heat and a signal to quickly return indoors.

Since cold weather puts an extra burden on the heart, those who have cardiac problems or high blood pressure, should follow a doctor’s orders about shoveling or performing any strenuous exercise outside. Even otherwise-healthy adults should remember that their bodies already are working overtime just to stay warm, and should dress appropriately and work slowly when doing heavy outdoor chores.

Those staying inside should take precautions to avoid exposure to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a potentially deadly gas that is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating. It is produced by burning fuels such as wood, oil, natural gas, kerosene, coal and gasoline.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to the flu but do not include a fever. At lower levels of exposure, a person may experience a headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Exposure to very high levels of carbon monoxide can result in loss of consciousness and even death.

Those heating with wood stoves, space heaters, electric heaters, kerosene heaters and pellet stoves should make sure their heating systems are safe and that the flues of wood-burning stoves be inspected annually (click here for an extreme cold guide from the Centers for Disease Control.