Stay inside if you can during cold snap, experts say

Be prepared: CSRA winter weather guide

AUGUSTA, Ga. - The CSRA and much of the rest of the country are under winter weather and wind chill alerts from a major “once in a generation” event.

With the National Weather Service warning of life-threatening wind chills in some parts of the country, the best way to protect yourself is to stay inside.

Low temperatures in the teens and 20s are expected Friday through Sunday, prompting a FIRST ALERT from the News 12 weather team.

Stay up to date on winter weather by downloading the WRDW Weather App on Google Play or the Apple App Store.

Kelly Serr, a warning coordination meteorologist with the weather agency, said frostbite can happen faster than you might think in negative temperatures.

“We really tell people to limit their exposure outside,” she said. “The air temperature combined with the strong winds really create these hazardous conditions to humans. Then, it’s just a matter of minutes. It’s a matter of minutes. Five to 10 minutes and your skin can start freezing.”

Serr also said to avoid getting on the roads unless you have to.

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“Make sure you have an emergency kit in your vehicle, and that emergency kit is going to keep things that are going to keep you warm in the event that you do get stranded or vehicle stalls,” she said. “You want to make sure you have the hat, the mittens, the gloves, your warm winter coat, blankets, some extra food, make sure your cell phone is with you, an extra battery, extra battery charger for your cell phone so that you can call for help when you need.”

Precautions should be taken when indoors too.

People are advised to dress in warm clothing, keep pets inside, and let your water taps drip slightly to prevent freezing pipes.

If the power goes out, make sure not to leave any lit candles unattended, and never use generators, grills, or camp stoves indoors or near windows.