Cold temperatures approach at end of the week
Butler County isn’t finished with winter weather just yet, despite being buffeted by Winter Storm Izzy on Monday.
The National Weather Service predicts that temperatures will dive below 32 degrees and stay there throughout the weekend.
“We’re not going to see any temperatures above freezing at least through Tuesday,” said Lee Hendricks, a meteorologist at the Pittsburgh NWS office. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there is going to be any kind of a warm-up coming real soon.”
Thursday will be relatively clear, with a high near 22 during the day and a low around 0 degrees at night.
Friday is expected to be the peak of the cold air, with a high of only 19 degrees and a low between 0 and -5 degrees, Hendricks said. Saturday and Sunday will see some slight increases in temperature, but highs will still not rise above the mid-20 degree range.
The cold air is not predicted to bring more snow, Hendricks said.
“This is just a lot of cold air coming down, but not much moisture coming in with it,” he said.
Despite the lack of snow accumulation, some safety measures for winter weather are still a good idea.
“Definitely you need to dress in layers,” Hendricks said. “It’s the best way to stay warm.”
Hendricks recommended avoiding staying out in the cold for long periods of time.
“If you have to do it, at least do it in the midday when it is relatively warm,” he said. “Watch your pets if they are outside for any length of time — they’re not accustomed to this weather either. Same with children.”
Steve Bicehouse, director of the Butler County Department of Emergency Services, echoed the advice.
“Stay inside as much as possible,” he said. “If you have to go outside, make sure that you have appropriate clothing. It’s pretty simple, but the big thing is don’t go outside.”
In freezing temperatures, if residents are having trouble heating their homes, Bicehouse recommended calling 211 for help.
“If they are individuals and their heating goes out and they cannot get assistance, they need to try to see if they can get with a neighbor or relative or something like that,” he said. “If they’re having issues with their heating and can’t pay for heating or oil, there is some assistance available through some of the county offices. The number to call is 211 — if anyone is having issues with heat, if they can’t find a repair man, if they don’t have the money, 211 has resources available.”
Stacy Hess, a veterinary technician at Cranberry Veterinary Hospital, recommended pet owners who take their pets outside make their outdoor trips short.
“It’s best to keep outside trips to a minimum,” Hess said. “They need to take bathroom breaks, but especially when we’re in the lower 20s or below zero, it’s best to keep those to a minimum.”
Salt applied to sidewalks to melt ice can get stuck in dogs’ paws or mouths, and can cause distress.
“Be careful about what type of salt that you use. Make sure it is a pet-friendly product and is rated for pet use. These days it’s very well advertised,” she said. “If you notice excessive drooling, they may have picked up a piece of rock salt. It’s usually not harmful — contact your vet to make sure that everything is OK, if they do run into anything like that.”
Both salt or cold can damage paws, and checking on pets’ paws after they come back inside is always a good idea, Hess added.
“Monitor the bottom of their paws, in between toes. Nowadays, they have little rubber booties that you can put on if they will tolerate it,” she said. “Look out for cracking on the paws, excessive dryness. Same with their noses in this weather — if they’re out for an excessive amount of time or if they are older and already experiencing dry skin, that can be compounded.”
Bicehouse agreed that pet owners should make sure to keep any indoor-outdoor pets inside during cold weather.
“We see a lot of that, where people leave their dogs out and cats out, and it’s not good for them,” he said.
