NWS Louisville message

THIS WEEK IS WINTER WEATHER PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN INDIANA AND KENTUCKY. THE BEST WAY TO STAY SAFE AND WARM OUTDOORS IS TO BE PREPARED.MONITOR WEATHER FORECASTS. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES OUTLOOKS ON STORM POTENTIAL DAYS BEFORE IT ARRIVES. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WINTER WEATHER WATCHES GIVE UP TO 2 DAYS NOTICE OF IMPENDING STORMS. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WINTER WEATHER WARNINGS OR ADVISORIES GIVE UP TO 24 HOURS NOTICE OF SIGNIFICANT WEATHER SOON TO IMPACT YOUR AREA. DRESS WARMLY...WEARING SEVERAL LAYERS OF CLOTHES WHICH IS WARMER THAN A SINGLE THICK LAYER. WEAR GLOVES…A HAT AND SCARF OR TURTLENECK TO MINIMIZE EXPOSED SKIN. TRY AND STAY DRY. FOOTWEAR AND CLOTHING THAT CAN KEEP YOU DRY CAN PREVENT HYPOTHERMIA. CLOTHING THAT INSULATES WELL OR REMOVES BODY PERSPIRATION ALSO REDUCES YOUR CHANCE OF DEVELOPING FROSTBITE OR HYPOTHERMIA. IF YOU ARE CAUGHT OUTSIDE AWAY FROM SHELTER...YOUR MAIN CONCERNS ARE TO STAY WARM AND DRY. PREPARE A LEAN-TO OR SNOW CAVE TO HELP PROTECT YOU FROM PRECIPITATION AND WIND. BUILD A FIRE FOR HEAT AND TO ATTRACT ATTENTION. FOR YOUR VEHICLE...HAVE IT WINTERIZED...INCLUDING A CHECK OF THE ANTI-FREEZE ...WIPER BLADES AND TIRE TREAD AND PRESSURE. GOOD TIRES IMPROVE STEERING ABILITY AND SHORTEN BRAKING DISTANCE ON SLIPPERY ROADS. IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES...TEST THEM SO YOU KNOW HOW THEY WORK IN EMERGENCY STOPS. FREQUENTLY CHECK WINDOW WASHER FLUID LEVELS THROUGHOUT THE WINTER SO YOU DON'T RUN OUT WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST. THE BEST WAY TO STAY SAFE IS TO HAVE A PLAN...TO KNOW YOUR LIMITS AND TO USE COMMON SENSE. ON THURSDAY WE WILL DISCUSS MORE PREPAREDNESS TIPS AND CREATING EMERGENCY KITS.