Mankato Authorities Stress Winter Hazard Awareness as Minnesota Braces for Chilly Season

Mankato Police and Fire used social media to promote Winter Hazard Awareness Week as the season’s first snowflakes warn us of winter’s arrival. Their Facebook post states that it’s time for Minnesotans to review winter safety precautions, such as wearing layers to prevent frostbite, making sure their cars are prepared for the cold, using caution when driving on slick surfaces, and paying attention to weather advisories.

Minnesota is notorious for its bitterly cold winters, setting a record for a “bone-chilling 60 below zero in 1996,” as the Mankato Police and Fire website reminded locals. Winter is a serious season here, and no safety or warmth measure is too minor. We will no longer see “Wind Chill” advisories; instead, we will see “Extreme Cold Watch” and “Cold Weather Advisory.” This change in terminology, which will take effect on October 1, 2024, is part of the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Hazard Simplification initiative, which aims to make public warnings easier to understand and more actionable for everyone.

The NWS has changed the names of “Wind Chill Watch,” “Wind Chill Warning,” and “Wind Chill Advisory” to “Extreme Cold Warning,” “Cold Weather Advisory,” and “Extreme Cold Watch,” respectively, in an effort to avoid confusion and better inform and prepare people for potentially dangerous situations.

Authorities are sending out a clear warning as winter draws nearer: be vigilant, keep safe, and remain informed. Understanding the hazards and knowing how to mitigate them can be the difference between a winter wonderland and a seasonal nightmare in Minnesota, where winters can bring with them sharp drops in temperature. As they wrap up and get ready for the months ahead, when safety and readiness must go hand in hand like a penguin pacing on the ice, Minnesotans are encouraged to closely monitor weather updates.

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