Arctic Blast Headed to Bernardsville for Valentine's Weekend

Bernardsville, NJ -- Despite Punxsutawney Phil’s early spring prediction, winter still remains.

Frigid temperatures are expected. Mix that with high winds and temperatures will be in the negatives throughout Valentine’s weekend.

State and local officials are reminding you to stay indoors and keep warm.

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management is reminding adults and children to bundle up and wear:

• a hat
• a scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth
• sleeves that are snug at the wrist
• mittens (they are warmer than gloves)
• water-resistant coat and boots
• several layers of loose-fitting clothing

“Be sure the outer layer of your clothing is tightly woven, preferably wind resistant, to reduce body-heat loss caused by wind,” NJOEM posted on Facebook. “Wool, silk, or polypropylene inner layers of clothing will hold more body heat than cotton.”

Stay dry—wet clothing chills the body rapidly. Excess perspiration will increase heat loss, so remove extra layers of clothing whenever you feel too warm. Also, avoid getting gasoline or alcohol on your skin while de-icing and fueling your car or using a snow blower. These materials in contact with the skin greatly increase heat loss from the body. Do not ignore shivering. It’s an important first sign that the body is losing heat. Persistent shivering is a signal to return indoors and avoid hypothermia and frostbite.

The Somerville Fire Department and Rescue Squad also offer safety tips and precautions to prevent most heating fires from happening:

1. Keep anything that can burn at least three-feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater
2. Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters
3. Never use your oven to heat your home
4. Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions
5. Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional
6. Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed
7. Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters
8. Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room. Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home
9. Make sure you have smoke and carbon monoxide alarms installed in your residence and test them monthly

Half of home heating fires are reported during the months of December, January, and February.

Weather:

Today: Partly cloudy skies this morning will turn into an overcast this afternoon with a high of around 27 degrees. A few flurries or snow showers possible. West northwest winds at 15 to 25 mph.

Tonight: A clear sky with a low around 13 degrees. West northwest winds at 10 to 15 mph.

Friday: A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies in the afternoon with a high around 30. West southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night: Overcast with a low around 17 degrees. Few flurries or snow showers possible. Southwest winds at 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday: Partly cloudy skies with a high around 16 degrees. Northwest winds at 15 to 25 mph.

Saturday Night: Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions over night with a low around -3 degrees. Northwest winds at 10 to 20 mph.

Sunday: A mainly sunny sky with a high of 22 degrees. Northwest winds at 10 to 15 mph.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight with a low around 8 degrees. Winds light and variable.