What is a Polar Vortex and How Can I Prepare?
It’s everyone’s least favorite topic: the cold. As we all joined to ring in the New Year this past week, we also welcomed the remaining months of winter. But it doesn’t look like the chilly weather will be leaving anytime soon, as news outlets in the Northern Hemisphere have been tracking an incoming Polar Vortex.
What is a Polar Vortex?
A polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth’s poles. The National Weather Service released a statement saying, “Many times during winter in the northern hemisphere, the polar vortex will expand, sending cold air southward with the jet stream. This occurs fairly regularly during wintertime and is often associated with large outbreaks of Arctic air in the United States.”
Moral of the story: it’s about to get really cold.
Prepare your home for the dropping temperatures by:
insulating your pipes
having your furnace inspected
keeping batteries and flashlights handy in case of a power outage
leaving blankets throughout the house
filling your gas tank
stocking up on water
In case of an emergency, have these numbers on hand:
DTE Energy: Call (800) 477-4747 to report a power outage or downed power lines; call (800) 947-5000 to report a natural gas emergency or leak. Check the outage map. More information here.
Consumers Energy: Call (800) 477-5050, Check the outage map. More information here.
At Leslie Heating & Cooling, we’re dedicated to keeping you comfortable and helping you save on heating costs. We are a family-owned and operated business based in Woodridge, Illinois and are here for all of your HVAC emergency needs, heating installation, and maintenance. To learn more, give us a call at 630.621.9419.
