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National Weather Service highlights December 1-7 as Winter Weather Awareness Week

weather.gov

This week is Winter Weather Awareness Week. Following recent snowy weather, officials said Kentuckians should be prepared for winter storms and low temperatures in the coming months.

Pete Geogerian, a hydrologist for the National Weather Service in Jackson, said the weather service is prioritizing winter weather preparedness both on their website and in social media posts.

“It’s basically a reminder of what you need to be ready for all types of hazards like winter storms, ice storms, heavy rain and flooding, high wind and even, of course, even severe weather, and that’s not as prominent in the winter, but it can happen on occasion,” said Geogerian.

He said if people must be outside in especially cold weather, they should wear several layers of loose-fitting clothing to prevent frostbite.

Geogerian also emphasizes the importance of driving cautiously during winter weather.

“Having good tires is really important if you have to travel in winter conditions. So that’s one basic thing that everybody can do, is to just make sure their vehicle is winterized, make sure the services are up to date, to prevent you from having to break down in a winter storm,” said Geogerian.

Officials suggest scraping snow off car roofs as well as windshields to prevent the snow from hitting other cars on the road. Interstates and major roads are prioritized when icy roads are being salted, so anyone driving on county roads should take caution.

Geogerian suggests having a car emergency kit containing a flashlight and other tools as well as a blanket available in case the car gets stuck in a winter storm.

More information about Winter Weather Awareness Week, including types of winter weather alerts, can be found at weather.gov.