Winter storm expected on Tuesday; local officials open warming centers for those who need a place to stay warm
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
Another cold front is headed our way, and local officials are preparing to assist anyone who needs help during the winter weather. Multiple days of frigid temperatures and dangerous wind chill factors are expected, following an arctic front on Tuesday.
Depending on which forecast you look at, the overnight lows on Tuesday/Wednesday and Wednesday/Thursday could drop down into the single digits. The National Weather Service is forecasting Tuesday night’s low at 11 degrees with north winds gusting up to 30 miles per hour; Wednesday night’s low is predicted to be 10 degrees with wind gusts up to 20 mph. The Weather Channel is predicting 9 degrees Tuesday night and 10 degrees Wednesday night.
Based on the forecast, the Stephens County Office of Emergency Management will open a warming center at the Stephens County Law Enforcement Center, located at 210 East Dyer Street in Breckenridge. The warming center will be open 24 hours daily, beginning Tuesday, and will remain open to the public until Friday morning. Additional facilities may be activated based upon citizen demand and changing weather situations.
The Office of Emergency Management is working in conjunction with the county Sheriff’s Department, Breckenridge Police Department, area fire departments and the Stephens County Judge.
Additionally, Stephens Memorial Hospital will open the emergency department waiting room as a warming center for anyone in need. The hospital is located at 200 S. Geneva St., and the emergency department entrance is on the south side of the building, in the 1200 block of East Hullum Street.
The National Weather Service center in Fort Worth reminds everyone in the area to:
- Check on friends and family
- Keep pets warm, dry, and inside as much as possible
- Protect outdoor pipes and drip indoor faucets
- Cover plants or bring them inside
- Bundle up for cold commutes
According to the forecast, Monday, Feb. 17, should be sunny with a high temperature of 62 with an overnight low of 43. On Tuesday, the high temperature is expected to hit only 49 degrees with an overnight low of 11 degrees and a 20 percent chance of rain. On Wednesday, the temperatures aren’t predicted to reach freezing, with the high forecast at 28, followed by an overnight low of 10 degrees. Thursday’s high is forecast at 35 degrees with an overnight low around 18 degrees. Temperatures will remain cold on Friday, Feb. 21, with a daytime high of 38 degrees and an overnight low of 24. By Saturday, a warming trend is expected to begin, with a daytime high of 51 degrees and an overnight low of 37 degrees.
The week of Feb. 23-March 1 features a forecast of days in the 70s and overnight lows in the 40s and 50s.
This infographic from the National Weather Service provides recommendations for cold weather. The English version of this graphic is located at the top of this page.
