Sacramento: Temperatures Dip - Cold Weather Tips

 While winter is still a few weeks away, these weather conditions are definitely giving us a taste of winter-like temperatures for a couple of days this week. It's a great time to review cold weather tips:

Check on elderly family members, friends or neighbors. Seniors and those with serious medical conditions are at risk. Check on community members that might be vulnerable to ensure they are safely keeping warm.

Heat your home safely - carbon monoxide is a silent killer. It is not OK to heat the inside of your home with any kind of BBQ, propane heater, or any other fuel-fired equipment due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Only use heaters installed with your home and those designed to be used indoors. Make sure that your natural gas furnaces and other appliances are in good, clean working order.

Dip Near Freezing

Bring your pets inside when temperatures start to Dip Near Freezing. Make sure dogs and cats have a warm, draft-free place indoors with a dry mat or blanket that they can lie on. For additional winter weather tips for animals, check out the Bradshaw Animal Shelter's website.

Insulate outdoor pipes that lead into your home to prevent freezing. Seal with caulk around the pipes that lead into and out of your home. Inside your home, leave the bathroom and under-sink cabinets open to help warm the water. If your pipes freeze, leave your tap on and call a plumber. You can defrost your pipes using a hairdryer on a low setting, working your way slowly from the faucet to where your pipe enters the wall. County residents who need to have their water turned off in order to make repairs to their lines can go .

Ensure proper drainage by scooping up leaves and debris. Keeping storm drains clear can prevent street flooding and black ice from forming.

When raining, reduce your vehicle speed. Wet roads increase the distance and time needed to stop your vehicle. Be extra cautious on roads, bridges and overpasses when temperatures are 32 degrees or below due to black ice – slow down and give yourself extra spacing between vehicles in front of you.

 Temperatures dip

Watch for tree limbs. As Temperatures dip, trees become vulnerable to limbs snapping. For downed trees or branches in the roadway, County residents can go . from out of the area).

Prepare for wind. Secure yard items that may blow around and be prepared for the possibility of loss of power. For downed power lines, stay away and  immediately.

Sign-up for Emergency Alerts. This system alerts residents about emergency events and other important public safety information quickly in a variety of situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods.

Where to get help.  in Sacramento or go online for information on emergency shelter services.

Learn more about how to stay safe during fog and cold weather on the Sacramento Ready website.

Soource-"https://patch.com/california/sacramento/sacramento-temperatures-dip-cold-weather-tips".