There’s a good chance that Clark County residents could be ringing in 2017 with snow, which will be followed by very low temperatures the first few days of the new year.
The National Weather Service predicts that rain on Saturday will likely transition to snow at some point in the evening or early Sunday morning.
If snow falls, the amounts are going to be light, with a dusting to an inch of accumulation expected in the metro area, National Weather Service hydrologist Andy Bryant said.
Looking into the first part of next week, there is only one way that Bryant describes the weather: cold.
Temperatures Sunday through Thursday are not expected to rise above freezing, and the lows will reach the lowest numbers the area has seen in three years, according to the weather service.
On Dec. 8, 2013, parts of Vancouver got temperatures as low as 9 degrees, the lowest the area has seen in recent memory, Bryant said.
“At this point, we’re not forecasting that, but it’s going to be in that vicinity,” he said. “The first week of January looks memorably cold.”
Overnight lows are expected to hover between 15 and 20 degrees with afternoon highs reaching around 30 degrees.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the outlying areas of Clark County get temperatures down close to 10 degrees,” Bryant said.
The National Weather Service advises area residents to take precautions against freezing pipes and to protect outdoor animals and plants.
Share’s day center will have limited space for warming homeless at night, though others seeking shelter should call the Housing Solutions Center at 360-695-9677.
The fact that may give residents a sigh of relief is that next week is expected to be sunny with no precipitation expected.
And though it’s hard to predict specifics past seven days in advance, Bryant said that the first half of January will likely be continued chilly weather.
“At some point, we’re going to come out of that cold, but the details of that are real fuzzy right now,” he said. “The message here is cold.”
Preventing frozen pipes
The city of Vancouver offers the following recommendations
for preventing and handling frozen water pipes.
Before freezing temperatures arrive:
• Disconnect all garden hoses and shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets.
• Drain in-ground irrigation systems according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Protect outside faucets and hose bibs with insulation. Wrapping them with newspaper or rags covered with plastic is a good resort if you don’t have molded foam-insulating covers, designed specifically for that task and frequently found in hardware sections and stores.
• Seal leaks around pipes that allow cold air to seep inside.
• Insulate pipes near outer walls, in crawl spaces, basements, garages and/or attics to guard against freezing.
• Locate your home’s water shut-off valve and make sure it works before it’s ever needed in an emergency.
During freezing conditions:
• Allow a trickle of water to drip at night from an indoor faucet, preferably one located along an exterior wall and/or farthest from where your water service connects with the main water line.
• Open cupboard doors under sinks in kitchens and bathrooms to allow more heat to reach water pipes.
• Vacationing? Have someone check your house to make sure the heat is still on and water is working properly. Or drain and shut off the water system, with the exception of indoor fire sprinkler systems.
If your water pipes freeze:
• Please remember that you are responsible for protecting and repairing water pipes on your property should any breaks occur.
• If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call a plumber.
• Never try to thaw a frozen pipe with an open flame.
• Without water and suspect a problem is at the meter? Call the city’s Operations Center at 360-487-8177 for further assistance.
