Monday could be the first of a couple brutal days for North Texans. OMG! Predictions are even suggesting that Tuesday morning’s high will be five- to seven degrees! Shiver my timbers!
Thanks to eyebrow-raising temperatures dropping to way below 20 degrees during the evenings, the daytime snowy dreamlike scenes will freeze overnight into traffic nightmares.
So, why care? Because the overnight freeze will turn sidewalks, streets, highways and especially overpasses into icy roller-coaster migraines. Unless you’re absolutely in dire need of being out, reconsider. Here are a couple or three reasons:
- You just might hit a patch of black ice and go swirling into oncoming traffic.
- Another driver might slip-and-slide and wham into you.
- First responders, like the police and fire departments, don’t need to have unnecessary traffic challenging their efforts to perform life-saving duties.
Oh, what’s that? What’s black ice? It’s the most treacherous of traffic reporters’ images. It makes the road ahead look fine and dandy dry. In actuality, it’s a treacherously thin coating of glazed ice.
You’ve proven yourself in the past months of meeting the COVID-19 challenges. A couple or three more days should be a chilly breeze.
BTW, Oncor is recommending some “Hints from Heloise” type recommendations for conserving energy:
- Lower your thermostat a few degrees or more. Running your fans clockwise will also keep heat from rising
- Use large appliances like washing machines and ovens sparingly in the morning and early evening when demand for electricity peaks
- Close your shades and blinds to keep warm air inside
- Unplug devices that aren’t in use
Additional suggestions:
- If you can, use your microwave instead of your oven or stove.
- Use your heavy-duty appliances (i.e. washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, etc.) after you go to bed.
- Snuggle around that traditional wood-burning fireplace, if you have some logs.
- Wear those long johns. They may not be stylish but we won’t tell if you don’t post on social media.
Okay, so unplug your wine cellars for the time being and stow all those bottles that you bought at auction outside into the snowy embankments gathering around your cabanas. And just take a chill pill and hibernate for a while.
* Photo credit: Glenn Hunter