The coldest overnight temperatures in more than a decade will hit the North Olympic Peninsula beginning tonight, with the Arctic blast plummeting the mercury as low as 16 degrees in lowland areas.
The National Weather Service predicted that “modified Arctic air” will arrive in Western Washington today, pushing morning temperatures on Friday and Saturday into the teens and lower 20s.
Daytime high temperatures will struggle to climb above the freezing point, the Weather Service predicted.
Truly warmer temperatures aren’t expected until Sunday at the earliest.
And to make it worse for residents along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, small-craft warnings and gale advisories were issued Wednesday night, causing wind chills for an even greater frigid feeling on parts of the Peninsula.
“By [tonight], windy conditions will persist with temperatures falling into the teens,” the Weather Services said in an emergency statement.
“Wind chill values could fall below zero in many parts of Western Washington.”
Little moisture in the cold
Not all the news connected with the big chill is bad.
The Weather Service said little moisture is foreseen with the cold snap, eliminating the chance of snow except for possibly a few flurries.
The cold weather forecast for the next few days shouldn’t be a problem with a little preparation by homeowners, motorists and pet owners.
Homeowners should prepare for the cold temperatures by wrapping exposed pipes and checking crawl spaces.
“The big things are unhooking outside faucets, turning on the heat in unheated areas — such as bathrooms — and opening the cabinet below bathroom sinks,” said Dale Bruntz, owner of Angeles Plumbing of Port Angeles.
Along with wrapping exposed pipes in insulation, Bruntz also recommends heating pump houses.
“If your pipes have a tendency for freezing, it’s a good idea to let water trickle from the faucet,” Bruntz said.
“In the past 10 years, insulation programs have stopped those problems, but then we haven’t had cold weather, either.”
Another consideration that often escapes people’s attention is their travel trailers, recreational vehicles and boats, Peninsula insurance broker Ray Gruver said.
“We encourage people to drain all the lines and holding tank in their recreational vehicles and weatherize them. And to treat boat motors just like engines in cars,” said Gruver, who operates a State Farm Insurance office.
Along with not going to sleep with a fire in the fireplace, Port Angeles Fire Marshal Ken Dubuc also warns homeowners to be careful about cleaning out the fireplace afterward.
“When you clean out the fireplace, put the ashes in a metal container on concrete,” he said.
He also recommends using battery-operated flashlights or lanterns instead of candles if the power goes out.
“Always be careful with open flames, keep them at least 2 to 3 feet away from combustibles. Keep them away from bedding and curtains,” Dubuc said.
If people are using space heaters, they should be plugged directly into the wall, not via an extension cord, and nothing else should be plugged into the same socket, he said.
Some people also are tempted to use kitchen ovens to heat their homes, but the appliances are not designed for that purpose, Dubuc said.
The open door allows the heat to escape, but the oven gets hotter and hotter as it tries to reach its set temperature, he said.
Anyone planning to travel on the state’s highways during the upcoming cold weather also should be prepared, said State Patrol Trooper Brian George.
“With the cold temperatures comes icy and slick roads, and preparing for that,” George said.
“Just because there’s not heavy snow doesn’t mean there won’t be bad accidents that close the road.
“If you are involved in a collision, don’t abandon your vehicle. Make arrangements for its removal.
“If it is impeding the roadway, the State Patrol will remove it.”
Along with telling people where you are going and when you expect to arrive or return, George recommends topping off your vehicle’s gas tank and checking the antifreeze, tire tread depth, non-freezing wiper fluid, lights, belts and hoses.
George said drivers also should remember that if their car slides off the road, another vehicle could slide off the road into them if they step out of the vehicle.
“If you step outside your vehicle, the chances of being struck are pretty good. Only leave it if you have to, otherwise wait inside,” George said.
A motorist’s travel kit should include tire chains, snow shovel, first aid kit and cellular telephone or citizens band radio.
Other items include important phone numbers, gloves, blankets, flashlight, ice scraper, radiator antifreeze, nonperishable food and water.
“Make sure your spare tire is inflated and know the location of your car’s jack and a lug wrench that works,” George said.
Pet care
Veterinarian Dr. Dwight Waknitz said if you have outdoor pets, ensure that they have a place to get out of the wind and that their water container is not frozen over.
If temperatures get colder than 20 degrees, pets need somewhere to warm up, Waknitz said.
They also will need more to eat during cold weather because they will burn more calories, especially outdoor pets, he said.
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The Peninsula Daily News is collecting news and anecdotes relating to the big chill from Jefferson and Clallam residents. Please report them to news@peninsuladailynews.com.
