After somewhat of a mild winter thus far, the Hudson Valley is preparing for a blast of frigid cold over the next couple days that has some residents scrambling for more than just bread and milk.

We've been hearing the news of this arctic blast for days, and we're already feeling the cold, crisp air moving through the area, and it's only going to get colder. By tomorrow (Friday) temps are expected to drop down to zero or below, with the wind chill on top of that it is going to feel much colder. The forecast indicates the cold will stick around for about 48 hours, and temps will climb up beyond the freezing mark again on Sunday.

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So now what?

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Hudson Valley Preparations For Extreme Cold Weather

There are the obvious things to do ahead of a bitterly cold forecast, like make sure you take the necessary steps to ensure your pipes don't freeze, leaving you with a giant mess, without water and or heat, and likely a big plumbing bill.

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If you're a fur-parent you've likely thought about your game plan to keep your pets safe during such cold weather, and we shouldn't need to state the obvious about not leaving your pets outside or in the car.

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There are a few other things you can do around your home to prepare for the incoming arctic blast, here's just a few of our recommendations:

  • Draft stoppers - do you have that space under the garage door that constantly lets the cold in? Pick up one of those stoppers to slide under the door to help keep the cold out of the house.
  • Keep your curtains closed - even if you don't have heavy duty drapes or curtains on the windows, just closing what you do have will help keep the heat inside the house, rather than it leaving through the windows.
  • Ever heard of wrapping your water heater? - I heard someone discussing this during lunch the other day, apparently there's a water heater insulation blanket you can get at the hardware store to protect your water heater.
  • Planning to light a fire (in your fireplace of course) - make sure your chimney is cleaned and the wood is kept in a dry place.
  • Emergency supplies - now this can look different for everyone, for those planning to hibernate in the house while the cold is in town maybe you need snacks, wine, and frozen pizza. Others may be thinking about worst case scenarios and getting candles, flashlights and extra batteries in case of a power outage. To each their own!

Any other suggestions to prepare for the incoming arctic blast?

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