The Winter Cold Is Coming For Amarillo; Here’s What You Need To Do

We've been really fortunate in Amarillo. We haven't seen any real cold weather so far this season. We've been too busy setting record highs and flirting with a third summer. Next week, though, that all comes to an end. The cold weather is on the way, and it's time to prepare.

Prepare Your Pipes For Freezing Cold Weather

Next week, lows are supposed to get into the 20s. According to the National Weather Service Amarillo, we could be seeing snow and freezing temperatures by the middle of the week. If you haven't prepared, now would be a good time to start thinking about it.

First, prepare your pipes. There are several ways you can do this:

• Wrap pipes in towels or foam insulation
• Shutoff outdoor faucets
• Set a reminder to let your faucets drip slowly overnight when the temperatures are freezing
• Open cabinet doors to let heat circulate to where your pipes are
• Cover outdoor faucets

Prepare Your Home For The Winter Weather

There are other steps you can take to make sure your home is ready for the colder weather we're about to have. Some of them are:

• Clean your gutters
• Flip that switch on your ceiling fan to reverse the direction and help circulate warm air
• Check batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
• Keep your thermostat set between 62 and 68 degrees (that's what experts recommend)
• Make sure you have supplies in case the power goes out (batteries, flashlights, ways to stay warm, etc.)

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Also, make sure your vehicle is ready for the colder weather. Have an emergency kit in your car in case you break down or get stranded. Keep a full tank of gas in your vehicle. It wouldn't be a bad idea to take it into your shop of choice and have it checked out.

The cold is finally coming for us in Amarillo. Make sure you're ready.