Hard freeze in forecast

St. Mary Parish residents are being advised to protect pipes, plants and pets as the low tonight is predicted to be 25 degrees with a wind chill around 15.
An Arctic air mass moving through south Louisiana brings with it a hard freeze warning, wind chill advisory, wind advisory and a hazardous weather warning from the National Weather Service.
The National Weather Service forecasts cold temperatures will be sustained for several hours and will continue through Thursday.
Additionally, the wind chill will significantly decrease the amount of time it takes for hypothermia to set in and could result in frostbite if skin is exposed long enough. Anyone who must be outside during the wind chill advisory should take extra precautions to stay warm and cover exposed skin.
Jim Sweeney, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, said the forecast for Morgan City is for north winds to increase during the day today as temperatures fall.
Tonight is predicted to be mostly clear with a low of 25 and windy with a northeast wind of 20 to 25 mph, gusting to 35 mph.
Thursday is sunny with a high of 41 and east winds of 15 to 20 mph, gusting to 25 mph in the morning and decreasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
The wind chill Thursday is predicted to be 27 around noon, 32 at 2 p.m. and 35 later in the afternoon, Sweeney said.
There is a 20 percent chance of rain overnight Thursday with a low that night of 33 degrees and a wind chill of 28, he said.
“So it looks like it’s going to be liquid,” Sweeney said of any rain falling Thursday night.
On Friday, highs return to 49 with cloudy, cold and windy skies.
“It’s definitely going to be gumbo weather,” Sweeney said.
St. Mary School Superintendent Donald Aguillard said all St. Mary Parish schools will remain open Thursday and Friday unless weather conditions deteriorate.
Selected safety tips from the Centers for Disease Control include:
—If you’ll be using a fireplace, wood stove or kerosene heater, install a smoke detector and a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector near the area to be heated. Test them monthly, and replace batteries twice yearly.
—If you have pets, bring them indoors. If you cannot bring them inside, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure that they have access to unfrozen water.
—Insulate any water lines that run along exterior walls so your water supply will be less likely to freeze. To the extent possible, weatherproof your home by adding weather-stripping, insulation, insulated doors and storm windows, or thermal-pane windows.
—Your ability to feel a change in temperature decreases with age, and older people are more susceptible to health problems caused by cold. If you are over 65 years old, place an easy-to-read thermometer in an indoor location where you will see it frequently, and check the temperature of your home often during the winter months.
—Have your car’s radiator system serviced, or check the antifreeze level yourself with an antifreeze tester. Add antifreeze, as needed.
—Replace windshield-wiper fluid with a wintertime mixture.
—Replace any worn tires and check the air pressure in the tires.
—During winter, keep the gas tank near full to help avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines
The Insurance Information Institute offers these tips to help protect homes from frigid temperatures:
—Keep the house heated to a minimum of 65 degrees. The temperature inside the walls where the pipes are located is substantially colder than the walls themselves. A temperature lower than 65 degrees will not keep the inside walls from freezing.
—Open hot and cold faucets enough to let them drip slowly. Keeping water moving within the pipes will prevent freezing.
—Identify the location for the main water shutoff in your home. Find out how it works in case you have to use it.
—If you use fireplaces, wood stoves and electric heaters, watch them closely and make sure they are working properly.
—If you haven’t already, make sure all hoses are disconnected from outside spigots.
—If your garage is attached to your house, keep the garage doors closed. The door leading to the house is probably not as well-insulated as an exterior door.
—Watch for ice dams near gutter downspouts. Keep gutters free of leaves and debris. Ice dams can cause water to build up and seep into your house.
—If you discover that pipes are frozen, don’t wait for them to burst. Take measures to safely thaw them immediately, or call a plumber for assistance.
—If your pipes burst, first turn off the water and then mop up spills. You don’t want the water to do more damage than it already has.
—Make temporary repairs and take other steps to protect your property from further damage. Remove any carpet or furniture that can be further damaged from seepage. Save receipts for temporary repairs and take photos of any items that were unsafe to retain to share with your insurance company if you make a claim.
For more extreme cold weather tips from the CDC, visit www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/winter/pdf/extreme-cold-guide.pdf.