Don't get left in the cold: Prep for winter's hazards

The National Weather Service winter outlook isn't looking particularly harsh, but that doesn't mean Americans shouldn't worry about the prospects of extreme weather this season.

The agency's recently released forecast predicts an equal likelihood of above, near, or below normal temperatures and precipitation throughout most of the country except parts of the West and the South, where warmer and colder temps, respectively, are likely.

That being said, dangerous weather, particularly during winter, can trick even the most veteran meteorologist.

"Snow forecasts are dependent upon the strength and track of winter storms, which are generally not predictable more than a week in advance," the National Weather Service explains.

The tricky part even when the storm is just hours away? A temperature just above or below the 32-degree freezing mark can mean the difference between a lot of snow and little to none.

Take the snowstorm that covered much of the Southeast — particularly Georgia and Alabama — last January, stranding children at schools, motorists on highways, and taking by surprise the city of Birmingham, which was expecting a mere dusting of snow — not inches, something the South isn't as prepared for or used to as its northern neighbors.

To be sure, forecasting continues to improve, but we should expect the unexpected when it comes to winter weather.

A winter storm warning means heavy snow, heavy freezing rain or heavy sleet is on its way or already occurring. These warnings are usually issued 12 to 24 hours in advance of a storm. A winter storm watch means those conditions are likely. Those alerts are issued 12 to 48 hours in advance. Finally, a winter storm outlook means a storm is possible, and is issued three to five days in advance.

Knowing the time scale of these warnings is important to keeping safe ahead of winter weather.

Wind chill, too, comes in doses: A warning means several minutes of exposure is hazardous to health, while an advisory means exposure could be uncomfortable and caution is recommended.

Wind chill is actually one of those particular terms that we hear a lot, but whose meaning can be lost. It is used by the media frequently to describe how cold it feels when winds make already-low temperatures feel even colder.

In actuality, the wind chill index is a mathematical equation that portrays the rate of heat loss from your body from both wind and cold. If, for example, it's 0 degrees with wind speeds of five miles per hour, the wind chill is minus 11. Frostbite on body parts exposed to the elements can occur within 30 minutes. Winds of 15 miles per hour at that same temperature put the wind chill at minus 19, meaning frostbite can occur within 15 minutes.

As this season's first frost and colder temperatures grip parts of the nation, it's a good idea to start prepping for even colder weather and the hazards it brings, including hypothermia.

Here are some ideas:

• Keep your home's temperature set at 68 degrees or warmer.

• Shut the doors on rooms you don't need to heat.

• Use only space heaters with automatic shutoffs and protective grills.

• Don't plug more than one space heater into a socket.

• If you use an extension cord, use a 14-gauge wire or larger cord.

• Make sure to place heaters more than three feet from anything that could catch on fire.

• Never use the oven to heat your home. If you are using a kerosene heater, open a window slightly for circulation and check it regularly.

Adult males die of heart attacks more often during wintertime. Cold strains the body's immune system. Add to that the stress of shoveling or walking through heavy snow, and it's easy to see how sudden illness can fall.

Don't get left in the cold. Understand it's dangers and fight them with caution.