Cold Weather

Local businesses and municipalities have been busy making sure it’s beginning to lot a lot like Christmas over the past week, and with the thermometer taking a double-dive this weekend and in the days to come, it’s about to start feeling a lot like it, too.

Friday night playoff football and the weekend’s lineup of outdoor Christmas events will mark a blustery change from the mild temperatures the Cullman area’s enjoyed through early November. National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters expect the thermometer to drop into the high 20s tonight before recovering on Sunday and Monday — only to plunge into the teens by midweek.

The cold system that’s moved in today has at least swept away Thursday’s steady rains, and forecasters don’t expect any type of precipitation to exacerbate the cold spell. But early NWS predictions show a possibility for rain on Tuesday to potentially turn to snow as the mercury dips further next week.

That means now’s the time to start making sure you’ve got a plan for getting those pets and plants indoors, firing up a reliable source of heat and keeping open communication with at-risk friends and family who may lack resources and could use shelter or wellness checks as the weather turns cold.

NWS advises letting your indoor faucets drip when temperatures remain below freezing for extended periods, as they’re likely to do next week. The service also advises making sure you’ve topped off your car’s antifreeze and tire pressure if you’re planning to travel, and to invest in a winter weather survival kit in case of roadside emergencies. 

Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 145.