No snow, but wind chill and hard freeze expected tonight

BEACON PHOTO/PAT HATFIELD
Button up your overcoat — Brandon Ross, left, Zeb Long, Clinton McChesney and Adam Roberts dress for cold weather in Downtown DeLand Monday, Jan. 4. Jackets, caps and warm beverages were the order of the day, as temperatures struggled to reach the 50s. A wind-chill warning is in effect for tonight, Tuesday, Jan. 5, and a hard freeze is expected.

Cold weather to continue

By Pat Hatfield
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Jan 4, 2010 - 3:36:52pm

UPDATED 6:30 P.M. TUESDAY, JAN. 5 — Cold air and precipitation in the forecast give rise to the question: Will it snow?

Not likely, according to a spokesman at the National Weather Service Melbourne Station. But, cold-weather disdainers should brace themselves: There's more cold to come, with below freezing temperatures of 24 degrees tonight and 29 degrees Wednesday night.

A wind-chill advisory is in effect tonight. That means exposure to the weather without proper precautions could bring frostbite or hypothermia. A hard freeze is also expected, with temperatures below 28 degrees for four-to-eight hours tonight.

After a bright spot Thursday night, when a low of 40 degrees is forecast, another cold front will move in Friday, bringing a low of 28 Friday night, and a low of 26 Saturday night.

A low of 29 degrees is expected Sunday night.

Freeze relief will begin Monday night, with a low of only 38 degrees forecast.

Though showers and clouds are expected Thursday and Friday morning, the precipitation will come in advance of Friday night's below-freezing temperatures. No snow or flurries are expected, a National Weather Service spokesman said.

Highs in the 50s are expected until Monday, except for Thursday, when balmy temperatures in the low 60s are forecast.

REPORTED MONDAY, JAN. 4 — If this morning wasn't cold enough, just wait until tonight.

While the National Weather Service reported freezing temperatures between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. this morning, Monday, Jan. 4, temperatures are forecast to drop lower tonight, with lows in the mid-20s, and tomorrow night, with lows around 27.

With windy conditions prevailing, the wind chill factor may be as low as 16 degrees Tuesday morning. Northwest winds of 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph, are expected tomorrow.

On Monday, University of Florida field-extension agent Dana Venrick, who works with growers in Volusia County, said a low of around 28 was recorded at the Volusia County Agricultural Center Jan. 4, but grower Dick Marshall of Marshall Groves in DeLand reported even lower temperatures.

Marshall confirmed he recorded a low of 22 degrees briefly, around sunrise, on Jan. 4. So did grower Hugh Gordon.

Marshall will be running sprayers in the groves the next few nights. The spray forms into ice on the trees, and acts as a protective barrier, trapping heat inside the trees and their fruit.

Venrick said, "The problem will be tonight, tomorrow night and the next night."

In low pockets in the Pierson area, temperatures could drop to 20 degrees, he said.

Fern growers, whose crops are highly susceptible to freezing temperatures, will be running sprinklers and misters to protect their crops.

Any problem with the equipment or fuel can mean disaster.

The shade or saran coverings over ferns sometimes collapse from the weight of ice that forms on them from misting. Windy conditions can cause them to break under the load.

The freeze warning is in effect for all of East Central Florida.

Red-flag conditions

With wind and dry conditions, conditions are ripe for fire, the National Weather Service also warned. Forecasters issued a red-flag warning today and a fire-weather watch through Tuesday afternoon, anticipating critical fire-weather conditions.

Cold-weather safety

Cold weather means people tend to stay in and turn up the heat, reported Volusia County Fire Services spokeswoman Shelley Szafraniec. "And turning up the heat can increase the risk of home-heating fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association nearly half of all home-heating fires occur between December through February."

Cold weather and lack of funds to pay heating bills can spell trouble, Volusia County Fire Services Deputy Chief Kathy Weaver said. “Families may not be able to afford to run the electric heat and opt for less-expensive methods for heating, such as fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, kerosene heaters and other space heaters. They also may choose to build warming fires outside in an attempt to keep the area around the house warm.”

Using a fireplace that's been dormant can lead to flue and attic fires.

Residents can take several steps to help prevent home-heating fires. Volusia County Fire Services provided these:

Fireplace and chimney tips

° Have chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary; open the

flue before starting a fire.

° Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room. Allow fireplace and wood-stove ashes to cool before disposing in a metal container, which should be kept a safe distance from the home.

° In a fireplace or wood stove, use only dry-seasoned wood to avoidthe buildup of creosote, an oily deposit that catches fire easily and accounts for most chimney fires and the largest share of home-heating fires. Use only paper or kindling wood, not a flammable liquid, to start the fire. Do not use artificial logs in wood stoves.

Space heaters

° Space heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least three feet away from heating equipment.

° Make sure the space heater has an emergency shut-off in case it is tipped over.

° Plug electric-powered space heaters into an outlet with sufficient

capacity and never into an extension cord.

° Use the proper grade of fuel for a liquid-fuel space heater, and never use gasoline in a heater not approved for gasoline use. Refuel only in a well-ventilated area and when the equipment is cool.

° Turn off space heaters whenever the room they are in is unoccupied or under circumstances when manufacturer’s instructions say they should be turned off.

° Portable space heaters are easy to knock over in the dark, and should be turned off when going to bed. However, residents should ensure their primary heating equipment for bedrooms is sufficient to avoid risks from severe cold.

General home-heating tips

° Do not use an oven to heat a home.

° To make sure deadly carbon monoxide does not build up inside the home, make sure fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside, the venting is kept clear and unobstructed, and the exit point is sealed properly around the vent.

° Inspect all heating equipment annually, and clean as necessary.

° Smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside all sleeping areas, and on every level of the home. Alarms should be tested monthly and interconnected (when one alarm sounds, they all sound).

° A carbon-monoxide alarm should be installed in a central location outside each sleeping area.

Volusia County Fire Services and some city fire agencies offer free smoke alarms and installation assistance to residents. Residents are encouraged to contact their local fire department for more information.

For more information about fire prevention, call 386-736-5940

or visit the county Web site.

— pat@beacononlinenewscom

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