{"id":21858,"date":"2016-02-16T15:19:42","date_gmt":"2016-02-16T20:19:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/?p=6402"},"modified":"2024-05-21T15:54:15","modified_gmt":"2024-05-21T19:54:15","slug":"winter-weather-blues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/winter-weather-blues\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter Weather Blues"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0By ASHLEY CHAFIN<\/h3>\n

Posted Feb. 16, 2016<\/em><\/p>\n

Ashley Chafin is a sophomore at NC State University. She is a communications intern with North Carolina Sea Grant.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"winter
Winter Storm Jonas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some would say this week has been somewhat easy compared to what North Carolina experienced a few weeks ago with Winter Storm Jonas.<\/p>\n

Here in the Triangle, bitter cold and wind chills in the teens were present Saturday, through the overnight and into Valentine’s Day. The sleet and freezing rain that arrived later that night and into Monday, Presidents’ Day, had turned to all rain by that afternoon. The weather eventually morphed into hazardous thunderstorms early this morning that moved out quickly leaving behind temperatures in the mid 60s. There was even a coastal tornado warning this morning.<\/p>\n

You can never be too ready for any type of weather-related adventure!<\/p>\n

When ice and sleet covered the Triangle this time, I was prepared. Although this storm did not bring the chaos and havoc of Jonas, it still was a reminder to be prepared in case of an emergency.<\/p>\n

When preparing for winter weather, a charged laptop and\/or phone could be your only connection to the outside world. When power outages strike, folks can be disconnected for days \u2014 relying only on the people with whom they live.<\/p>\n

I learned this the hard way when Jonas took its toll on my apartment\u2019s power. A tree limb fell on the central power line that provided electricity \u2014 and ultimately warmth \u2014 to the whole complex. The line took time to fix, so we were without power for almost three days.<\/p>\n

\"Map
Photo by NWS Raleigh<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My roommates and I were stuck in our tiny apartment, as roads were too icy for travel. Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows were our main dining options. We even invented new mind games to pass the time. We were not prepared to face the cold \u2014 let alone adapt to a life that didn\u2019t revolve around technology.<\/p>\n

Necessary items for snow and ice, or other weather-related emergencies, include:<\/p>\n