Freezing cold weather, possible snow headed to the Lowcountry. Here’s how to keep your home safe
With another round of cold weather swooping into the Lowcountry next week, rumors and hopes of snow are not entirely off the table.
Following a rainy and chilly weekend, chances of snow are still possible on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the Friday forecast from the National Weather Service. Also, temperatures could drop into the mid 20s Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, the NWS states.
Cold weather advisories are expected, but it’s still too soon to tell exactly if and how much ice and snow accumulation the area will experience.
Learn more about the expected weather in Beaufort County here.
With the colder temperatures hitting the area between Monday and Thursday next week, it’s important to know how to prepare (other than bundling up in your thickest jacket and warmest boots).
What is a hard freeze?
As the oddly cold temperatures settle in, a hard freeze may impact the area. A hard freeze is a period of at least one hour when temperatures are at or below 28 degrees.
Hard freezes can cause pipes to freeze and burst, issues for water and wastewater facilities and impact plants and vegetation. According to the National Weather Service, outdoor plumbing instruments like sprinklers and pools can also be impacted.
According to Farm Bureau Insurance, South Carolina homes are particularly susceptible to damage from cold weather in certain areas including pipes in attics, crawl spaces and outside walls when a hard freeze arrives.
With these colder-than-normal temperatures, many homes along the coast with exposed water pipes and other water outlets may be vulnerable.
As temperatures are anticipated to dip as low as 26 degrees on Thursday next week, it’s good to know how to keep yourself and your home safe.
Here are five ways to prepare your home for colder weather:
Drip your faucets slowly for the duration of the freezing temperatures to keep a constant flow of water through pipes that are vulnerable to freezing. It’s best to turn the faucet on before going to bed (before colder evening temperatures hit) and turn it off in the morning.
Although ice can still form, an open faucet allows water to escape before the pressure builds for a pipe to burst. If your faucet does stop dripping without you turning it off, this could be an indication that ice is blocking the pipe. If this happens, continue to keep the faucet open as the pipe still needs the pressure relief.
Remove and store any hoses indoors during the winter.
You can wrap exposed pipes with insulation sleeves, which can be found at your local hardware store.
Know where the location of the main water shut-off valve is in your home. This is important to know so it can be shut off quickly in the event of a burst water pipe or leak.
Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate around the pipes.
When to prepare?
Based on the forecast, it is advised to follow these preparations between Monday and Thursday of next week, Jan. 20-23.
The Beaufort County School District stated they are closely monitoring the weather and will inform families by mid-day on Monday (Jan. 20) if changes to operations become necessary.
Sea Island Presbyterian Church also plans to open its cold shelter on Sunday-Wednesday night from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., 81 Lady’s Island Drive, Beaufort.
For other cold weather tips and preparedness, refer to the National Weather Service cold weather safety page.
