FORECAST
A winter weather advisory is in effect until 7 AM Thursday for the counties along the North Carolina/Tennessee border...
The storm system that brought snow to the area Tuesday has pushed to our east. Northwest winds behind this system will continue to push some moisture up the northwest slopes of the northern mountains, squeezing out a mix of snow and rain showers in the mountains today. The highest chance for precipitation...and the best chance for snow...will be in the northern mountains, where 1"-3" of additional accumulation could fall before it all tapers off late tonight. The higher elevations will be more prone to further accumulations.
For the Upstate, sunshine returns today, but temperatures will still be a good ten degrees or so below average this afternoon.
Quiet and cool weather will stay with us through Friday, with warmer air pushing in for the weekend. The 7-day forecast, outside of that mountain precipitation through tonight, will be on the dry side until a chance of rain showers pushes into the mountains by late Tuesday.
ROAD CONDITIONS
Wednesday morning drivers should allow extra time for their drive to their destinations. The interstates remain clear but their may be slick spots on secondary roads.
In North Carolina, NCDOT reports most interstates are clear and secondary roads in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Polk and Rutherford counties may be snow covered and/or have icy spots.
Troopers in both states urge caution when you are driving.
CLOSINGS
You can get your latest school and business closings by clicking here.
SC DOT GETS READY
The South Carolina Department of Transportation released information on how Upstate counties are perparing for the winter weather:
Crews from the South Department of Transportation (SCDOT) have begun preparations for forecast snowfall in several South Carolina counties.
In Greenville County, SCDOT began pre-treating roads and bridges Monday night, starting at 10 p.m. Oconee County crews have pre-treated most of their primary priorities. Pickens County has a crew coming in at midnight to do their pre-treatment.
Spartanburg County crews have finished pre-treating all Interstate routes. Crews will report at 3 a.m.
Crews in Anderson County at 6 a.m. will be pre-treating I-85 with salt brine. Laurens County crews will be pre-treating I-385 and I-26 starting at 6 a.m. Newberry County crews will start pre-treating I-26 at 7 a.m. Abbeville and Greenwood counties will be pre-treating bridges starting at 7:30 a.m.
In Cherokee County, a crew will be arriving at 8 p.m. Monday to start brine operations on I-85 and primary routes. A full shift will arrive at midnight to support brine operations, stage equipment and prepare for snow removal operations if needed. The regular day shift will arrive at 8 a.m. on Tuesday to work a 12-hour shift if necessary.
In Chester County, a crew will arrive at 4 a.m. to handle any morning rush hour problems if needed. The regular day shift will arrive at normal hours on Tuesday to work 12-hour shift if necessary.
In Chesterfield, Fairfield and Lancaster counties, any problems will be handled by on-call foreman. Crews on arrive on March 2nd at regular hours. The situation will be re-evaluated at that time.
In Union County, a shift will arrive at midnight to begin brine operations on bridges and primary routes, and to prepare for any snow removal operations if needed.
In York County, a crew will arrive at 4 a.m. to handle morning rush hour problems if needed. The regular day shift will arrive at normal hours on Tuesday to work 12-hour shift if necessary.
Crews in the Midlands and Coastal regions will be monitoring the forecast.
WEATHER PICTURES
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DRIVING ON ICE:
Watch Chris Cato's story with the experts at BMW showing you what to do if you start to slide on the ice.
PREPARING YOUR HOME
The following information is from the Insurance News Service.
South Carolinians Need to Protect Against Frozen Pipes
Columbia, S.C. – With the weather forecast for temperatures to drop into the teens and lower twenties around South Carolina the next few nights, homeowners and renters need to prevent their homes from being ruined by frozen pipes. Frozen plumbing that leads to burst pipes can easily produce several thousand dollars in property damage for a home and if no one is home at the time those losses can reach tens of thousands of dollars. Nationally, in 2007, water damage (including frozen, burst pipes) accounted for about 22 percent of all homeowners insurance claims accordint to the Insurance Information Institute. The average claim was for $5,531. Standard homeowners and renters insurance provides coverage for burst pipes, wind driven rain and damage resulting from ice dams on your roof. Some policies cover sewer and drain backups, but many do not; however, you can purchase a sewer backup rider to a homeowners or renters policy for approximately an additional $50 each year, with the policy limits varying depending upon the insurer. Every year thousands of American families' homes are ruined and lives disrupted each winter when water pipes freeze and burst. South Carolinians might see a bigger problem than those in the North because of houses with slab foundations and water pipes running through the attic. Also, southern homeowners don't think freezing is a problem and don't bother checking the condition or location of pipes in their homes. If the temperature drops to 20 degrees or lower, you could have a problem with frozen pipes. To prepare for freezing weather, the South Carolina Insurance News Service offers the following tips:
Inside Your Home
• Keep the house warm. Set the thermostat for at least 65 degrees, since the temperature inside the walls, where the pipes are located, is substantially colder—a lower temperature will not keep the pipes from freezing.
• Keep cabinet doors open during cold spells to allow warm air to circulate around pipes (particularly in the kitchen and bathroom).
• Keep a slow trickle of water flowing through faucets connected to pipes that run through an unheated or unprotected space. Or drain the water system, especially if your house will be unattended during cold periods.
• Add extra insulation to attics, basements and crawl spaces. If too much heat escapes through the attic, it can cause snow or ice to melt on the roof. Water can then re-freeze, causing more snow and ice to build up. This can result in a collapsed roof, and can contribute to ice damming. Ideally, the attic should be five to ten degrees warmer than the outside air. Well-insulated basements and crawl spaces will also help protect pipes from freezing. You may also consider insulating unfinished rooms such as garages to keep pipes from freezing.
• Have the heating system serviced. Furnaces, boilers and chimneys should be serviced at least once a year to prevent fire and smoke damage.
• Check pipes. Look closely for cracks and leaks and have the pipes repaired immediately. Wrap exposed pipes with heating tape.
• Install an emergency pressure release valve in your plumbing system. This will protect against the increased pressure caused by freezing pipes and can help prevent your pipes from bursting.
• Make sure that smoke and fire alarms are working properly. Residential fires increase in the winter, so it is important to protect your family with working alarm systems. Also, consider installing a carbon dioxide detector, since a well sealed home can trap this toxic gas.
• Learn how to shut the water off and know where your pipes are located. If your pipes freeze, time is of the essence. The quicker you can shut off the water or direct your plumber to the problem, the better chance you have to prevent pipes from bursting.
• Hire a licensed contractor to look for structural damage. If damage is discovered, you can have it repaired immediately rather than waiting for a more severe problem to occur. Also, ask about ways to prevent water damage resulting from snow-related flooding. Plastic coatings for internal basement walls, sump pumps and other methods can prevent flood damage to your home and belongings.
For information on carbon monoxide poisoning and things to check at your house click here.
Outside Your Home
• Clean out gutters. Remove leaves, sticks and other debris from gutters, so melting snow and ice can flow freely. This can prevent ice damming—a condition where water is unable to drain through the gutters and instead seeps into the house causing water to drip from the ceiling and walls.
• Fit exposed pipes with insulation sleeves and/or UL listed heat tape. Two inches of insulation is optimal. The more insulation the better.
• Drain the water from sprinkler systems and exterior pool/spa supply lines, especially if your house will be unattended during cold periods.
• Remove and drain garden hoses. If the supply line to the hose bib has a shut off valve, shut off the supply to the house bib and drain the supply line.
• Install gutter guards. Available in most hardware and home stores, “gutter guards” prevent debris from entering the gutter and interfering with the flow of water away from the house and into the ground.
• Trim trees and remove dead branches. Ice, snow and wind can cause weak trees or branches to break, causing damage to your home or car, as well as injury to people on your property.
• Repair steps and handrails. This may prevent someone from falling and being seriously injured. Broken stairs and banisters can become lethal when covered with snow and ice.
• Seal cracks and holes in outside walls and foundations. Use caulking to protect water pipes and make sure that skylights and other roof openings have proper weather stripping to prevent snowmelt from seeping in.
• Learn how to turn off the water supply to your home or call your water supplier in case of burst pipes.
(Sources: Insurance Information Institute and the Institute for Business & Home Safety)
If you are going to be away from home for an extended period, take special care. Turn the water off and/or have the water system drained by a professional to keep pipes from freezing or bursting. Also, hire someone to check your home on a regular basis. If there is a problem, it can be fixed quickly, thus lessening any damage. Activity at your home will also reduce the likelihood that it will be burglarized.
For more tips on homeowners insurance, link to www.scinsurance.net.
It's always a good idea to keep a weather radio handy. Find out how to win one free here.
CAR CARE
Safe Driving and Well-Maintained Vehicles Even More Important During Winter Months
Information from the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.)
Winter, is a time when safe driving and well-maintained vehicles take on even greater importance, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.)
“Drivers should always avoid speeding, keep their tires properly inflated, and have their car’s brakes checked regularly. These steps are critical as motorists in many parts of the country prepare to combat snow, high winds and icy road conditions,” said Michael Barry, vice president, Media Relations, for the I.I.I.
The good news is that the number of overall U.S. traffic fatalities reported in 2008 hit its lowest level since 1961, and a statistical projection for the first six months of 2009 indicates that figure could drop again by year-end, according to an October 2009 National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) report. However, “failure to keep in proper lane or running off the road” (28 percent) and “driving too fast for conditions” (22 percent) were the two most frequent driver behaviors reported prior to fatal accidents in 2007, NHTSA found, running well ahead of incidents in which the driver was “under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication” (14 percent). In order to avoid potentially dangerous situations until spring arrives in late March 2010, the I.I.I. offers the following winter driving tips:
Give yourself enough time to arrive at your destination. Trips can take longer during winter than other times of the year, especially if you encounter storm conditions or icy roads.
*Bring a cellphone so that those awaiting your arrival can get in touch with you, or you can notify them, if you are running late. But avoid the temptation of using the phone while driving, as it can be a dangerous distraction—pull over first.
*Drive slowly because accelerating, stopping and turning all take longer on snow-covered roads.
*Leave more distance than usual between your vehicle and the one just ahead of you, giving yourself at least 10 seconds to come to a complete stop. Cars and motorcycles usually need at least 3 seconds to halt completely even when traveling on dry pavement.
*Be careful when driving over bridges, as well as roadways rarely exposed to sunlight—they are often icy when other areas are not.
*Avoid sudden stops and quick direction changes.
*Be sure to keep your gas tank full. Stormy weather or traffic delays may force you to change routes or turn back. A fuller gas tank also averts the potential freezing of your car's gas-line.
*Keep windshield and windows clear. Drivers in cold-weather states should have a snow brush or scraper in their vehicle at all times. Your car's defroster can be supplemented by wiping the windows with a clean cloth to improve visibility.
*Do not activate your cruise control when driving on a slippery surface.
*Do not warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as a garage.
*Keep your tires properly inflated and remember that good tread on your tires is essential to safe winter driving.
*Check your exhaust pipe to make sure it is clear. A blocked pipe could cause a leakage of carbon monoxide gas into your car when the engine is running.
Monitor the weather conditions at your destination before beginning your trip. If conditions look as though they are going to be too hazardous, just stay home.
The I.I.I. is a nonprofit, communications organization supported by the insurance industry.
For more information contact the SC Insurance Information Institute .
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