The first freeze of the winter season is expected to sweep through the Rio GrandeValley. Some forecasts predict overnight lows could remain near 30, while others indicate temperatures could drop to around 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Either way, such temperatures aren’t common in our semitropical climate, and although the severity of the February 2021 statewide ice storm, which left thousands of Valley residents, and millions statewide, without power for days on end likely remains strong in many residents’ memory, it’s always a good idea to remember that such unseasonable weather requires precautions.
Planning is essential for freezing weather, just like it is for approaching hurricanes. In some ways the needs are the same, as loss of power is always a possibility. Thus, residents should make sure that flashlights and batteries or candles are available to provide light if the home goes dark. A few days’ worth of canned food is a good idea, in case a power outage makes refrigerators and electric stoves inoperable. In addition, people should have a ready supply of blankets and warm clothing in case home climate control and space heaters can’t be used.
Extended or extreme cold weather can harm or even kill plants. Local farmers surely are gathering materials they will need to cover their crops against the cold air; homeowners can do the same if they have ornamental or food-bearing plants, and bring potted plants indoors when nights get cold.
For many homeowners, the greatest damage can occur if temperatures fall low enough to freeze water that’s in the water pipes and rupture them. The best precaution is to open faucets in order to keep the water flowing. A simple drip or trickle should provide enough movement to reduce the chance of having to replace or repair broken pipes, which often means cutting into the wall.
Space heaters that are unboxed and haven’t been used in a while should be cleaned, as lint that accumulates on the heating elements could ignite. Clear the area where a heater will be placed, to reduce the risk of anything catching fire.
Of course, the earliest planning is the best. People who wait to long could find that stores sell out of portable heaters, blankets and batteries when they are most needed.
Extreme cold means people will crank up the heat, which will tax our state’s power grid, which surely will raise fears that the 2021 disaster could happen again. Barring similar icy conditions, however, we should have enough energy; outages might be caused by frozen connections or broken lines, but expected conditions this week make such breaks unlikely.
To reduce the demand for power, however, some businesses, public buildings and schools that haven’t started the Christmas break could close during severe weather. Residents should be ready for that possibility and stay informed by monitoring news outlets, including MyRGV.com, to receive the latest information regarding weather conditions and possible closures.
Simple preparation can help make the coming cold weather a seasonal nuisance, rather than something worse.
