If you live in or around the Simcoe Highlands, today is shaping up to be a blustery one, and forecasters say it could be strong enough to knock out power and make the roads tricky.
The National Weather Service office in Pendleton, Oregon, issued an updated wind advisory for the area late Monday night, warning of powerful gusts expected to last through most of the day. The advisory runs from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. today.
What to expect
Forecasters say the area can expect west winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts reaching as high as 55 mph during the strongest stretches. Winds that strong are more than a nuisance. The weather service cautioned that the gusts could toss around anything left unsecured outdoors, snap tree limbs and trigger scattered power outages.
Drivers are being urged to take it slow, too. High winds can be tough to handle behind the wheel, and the risk is greatest for high-profile vehicles like trucks, buses and anything towing a trailer, which can be pushed around or even flipped by a single hard gust.
It helps to know what the alert means. A wind advisory signals that strong winds are happening or expected, though not quite at the level of a high wind warning. A warning is the most serious step, calling for immediate action, while a high wind watch is a heads-up that strong winds are possible and that it is time to prepare.
How to prepare and stay safe
A little prep goes a long way before the wind picks up. The weather service recommends securing or bringing inside any loose outdoor items such as patio furniture, trash cans and decorations, and trimming tree branches that hang near your home or power lines. It is also smart to charge phones, backup batteries and weather radios in case the power goes out, and to keep an emergency kit stocked with enough food and water for everyone in your household for at least three days.
Once the winds arrive, the safest place is indoors in a sturdy building, ideally an interior room away from windows. Anyone in a mobile home is advised to move to a more solid structure before conditions worsen. If you are caught outside or on the road with no shelter nearby, stay clear of trees, power lines and the shoulder, and look for something that can block flying debris. Drivers should keep both hands on the wheel, slow down and leave plenty of room around larger vehicles.
After the winds pass
The danger does not always end when the gusts die down. Downed power lines may still be live, so steer well clear of any lines on the ground and report them to local authorities. Take care when clearing branches or other debris that may have blown into your yard.
The advisory remains in effect until 11 p.m. today, after which conditions are expected to ease.
SOURCE: THE NEWS TRIBUNE