Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Winter Could Turn Nasty

In spite of the spate of warm weather, winter is coming.

Winter in Arkansas, while it has been mild the last several years, can be quite severe. Granted, the state will likely not be blanketed by several feet of snow as occurs in the north, but there are other winter weather situations Arkansans must be on the lookout for.

Though heavy snow storms are highly improbable, ice storms do happen in the state. Accumulations of ice on limbs and power lines can cause serious problems.

Once the ice forms on limbs or power lines, the weight often causes them to break. This can lead to damaged homes, in the case of limbs, and the loss of electricity and telephone service with the utility lines.

Another headache faced in Arkansas is sleet. Sleet, as we all know, is rain frozen into ice pellets. Sleet seldom sticks to stationary objects, unless there is a heavy accumulation.

When sleet does stick, though, it turns into sheets of ice, thereby creating driving hazards.

The same is true of freezing rain, or rain falling when the temperature is below freezing.

Most winter deaths occur because of traffic accidents. In fact, some 70 percent of ice and snow related deaths are in cars. Another 25 percent of winter weather deaths result in people being caught out in storms, with the majority of these being men over the age of 40.

This statistic, however, includes those who die of heart attacks while shoveling snow, not a serious problem in Arkansas.

Frostbite can and does happen in Arkansas. It is damage done to body tissue when the tissue freezes.

It causes a loss of feeling and a white or pale appearance in the extremities usually the hands and feet, ear lobes and the tip of the nose.

Another serious winter problem is hypothermia, or low body temperature.

Warning signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. This can lead to freezing to death.

Medical attention is required for hypothermia, but if none is available, the victim needs to be warmed slowly, starting with the body core.

Get the person suffering into warm dry clothing and wrap them in a warm blanket, if possible, covering their head and neck.

Do not, though, give the person alcohol, drugs, coffee or any hot beverage or food. If possible, give them warm broth.

It is important to warm the body first, as warming the extremities first will drive the cold blood to the hard and could lead to a coronary.

When caught in a winter storm, try and find shelter. Staying warm and dry is essential for survival. In addition, make sure all body parts are covered, especially the head and face.

If no shelter is available, build a lean-to or wind break for protection from the wind. Then build a fire. The fire will provide much needed heat and could attract attention and help.

Once the fire is going, place rocks around it to absorb and reflect the heat.

It is also important to remember not to eat snow. This lowers the body temperature. Be sure and melt the snow first before drinking.

When trapped in a vehicle during a winter storm, run the engine for about 10 minutes each hour. This will help keep those inside warm.

Open a window a little to allow fresh air in and prevent the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. Additionally, make sure the exhaust pipe isn't blocked.

However, it is important to keep up with weather situations. In Arkansas, the saying goes wait a few minutes and the weather will change. This isn't far from wrong.

When the skies turn grey, get to a radio or television and see if a weather watch or warning has been issued. If one has, pay attention to it and be prepared for severe weather.

The National Weather Service has added a warning to its list. This winter, a freezing fog advisory will be issued for areas expected to experience freezing fog.

This occurs when the temperatures is below freezing in foggy conditions. Freezing fog can cause icy conditions on roads and bridges, while decreasing visibility in automobiles.

Normally, this weather condition will occur at night, when icing won't be as obvious on the roads.

However, according to information from the NWS and the Climate Prediction Center, this year's winter in Arkansas is calling for above normal temperatures and high than normal precipitation.