It's Time To Prepare For Winter

Busted pipes, dangerous road conditions and even frost bite, all dangers we come across as we enter winter weather.

"We can usually expect some periods of freezing precipitation and snow or even freezing rain or sleet."

            Meteorologist Steven Cobb said even though the National Weather Service is predicting a mild winter for the South Plains the saying stands, "It's better to be safe than sorry."

"Temperatures can drop suddenly at night below freezing and cause pipes to burst," said Cobb. 

"When the weather turns bad or it becomes none dry roadways, they can become very slippery," he said "people just reduce their speeds its the biggest thing they can do to protect themselves."

Cobb said frost bite is another issue in the winter.

"Frost bite occurs when you get a combination of very cold temps and very strong winds," something he said is not strange for Lubbock.

And Morgan Baker knows what its like to get stuck in the cold.

"My other truck used to have a winter kit," said Baker, "had a blanket and food, I could eat and I used it a couple of times."

            Cobb said having a weather kit is important and could be a matter of life or death if you end up stranded.

"More people are injured or die each year from winter weather in this part of the country," he said.

            Baker knows having a winter kit in his car is just the beginning.

"We winterize, that's why it's in the shop right now, getting the right fluids and tire pressures and everything like that," said Baker.

"Seven out of ten weather related fatalities in the winter are vehicle related," Cobb added.

            He said it's still up in the air whether or not well have a white Christmas, but he said one thing's for certain prepare now and be ready if it hits.