The National Weather Service stated that one of the coldest arctic air mass to hit the Midwest in recent memory will pass through the area Wednesday and Thursday. Make every effort to say indoors during this time as temperatures are expected to have a wind chill of negative 50 degrees at times.
Upon request and need the Village of Westchester's warming center will be open to those needing temporary relief from the cold. Visit the Village of Westchester website for more information. Call 9-1-1 if you need immediate assistance from the cold weather.
Here are a few tips from the Red Cross to protect your home from the extreme cold weather.
*Keep garage doors closed if there are water supply lines in the garage.
*Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals up out of the reach of children.
*When the weather is very cold outside, let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
*Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature both during the day and at night. By temporarily suspending the use of lower nighttime temperatures, you may incur a higher heating bill, but you can prevent a much more costly repair job if pipes freeze and burst.
*If you will be going away during cold weather, leave the heat on in your home, set to a temperature no lower than 55° F.
