Winter storms and extreme cold

Read the alert

The National Weather Service's local offices issue winter alerts based on local criteria.

Freezing rain coats roads and power lines with ice.

• Winter Storm Watch. Conditions favor a significant storm: heavy snow, sleet, ice, or blowing snow.
• Wind Chill Watch. Dangerously low wind chills are possible.
• Winter Weather Advisory. Wintry weather is expected but below warning level; expect hard driving.

At home

Ready.gov:

If the heat goes out, NWS says: close off rooms you don't need. Stuff towels in the cracks under doors. Close curtains. Eat and drink. Food gives the body energy to make heat, and cold air is very dry. Wear loose layers.

• Stay off roads if at all possible.
• Limit time outside and dress in layers.
• Avoid overexertion when shoveling snow, to reduce the risk of a heart attack.
• Use generators and fuel only outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and attached garages.
• Install carbon monoxide detectors on every level of the home.

If the car gets stuck

NWS: Stay in the vehicle. You become disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow.

Before any winter drive, tell someone your route and carry a charged phone, a car charger, and a car kit.

• Run the engine about 10 minutes each hour for heat. Crack a window while it runs, and clear snow from the exhaust pipe so carbon monoxide doesn't build up.
• Turn on the dome light at night while the engine runs.
• Tie a bright cloth, preferably red, to the antenna or door. After the snow stops, raise the hood.

Frostbite and hypothermia

From Ready.gov. Frostbite: signs are numbness, white or grayish-yellow skin, and firm or waxy skin. Go to a warm room and soak the area in warm water. Do not massage it or use a heating pad.

Hypothermia (body temperature below 95°F). Signs are shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, or drowsiness. Warm the center of the body first: chest, neck, head, and groin. Keep the person dry and wrapped in blankets.

NWS's cold page adds that hypothermia can occur in temperatures as warm as 60°F, particularly in water or if you're outside a long time and not dressed for the weather. It also says that of the approximately 1,300 people the CDC lists as killed by hypothermia each year, most are seniors.