Brad Panovich's 4 Ps for cold weather preparation

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A cold front that moved into the Carolinas Sunday night brought some of the coldest air Charlotte’s felt in years as the region prepares for a week of frigid temperatures and dangerous wind chills. 

The prolonged arctic blast will have major impacts on the region. Weather Impact Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich says Charlotte could stay below freezing for up to 85 hours and is encouraging everyone to be Weather Aware through Thursday due to the bitter cold. 

Things will be even worse in the North Carolina mountains, where the wind chill could drop to 15 degrees below zero. An Extreme Cold Warning is in effect for several mountain counties, while the foothills are under a Cold Weather Advisory, meaning wind chills could drop to -5. 

Panovich shared some cold weather tips on social media, urging his followers to recognize the “4 Ps” of cold weather: people, pets, pipes and plants. 

• Check your furnace 
• Check chimneys
• Check carbon monoxide detectors and test the batteries
• Insulate any exposed pipes

• Check the battery
• Check the coolant for contamination and proper level
• Check the tires
• Have jumper cables
• Have a blanket and cold-weather clothing

• Wear 2-3 layers
• Warm hat
• Gloves
• Waterproof boots
• Your outer layer should keep out wind and wet snow. 

• Wear at least three layers
• Gloves
• Two layers of pants
• Waterproof boots
• Face mask
• Warm hat

• Bring pets inside when possible
• Provide shelter and fresh water
• Keep salt away from their paws

• Bring plants that can be moved indoors or closer to the house
• Cover plants with a fabric or cloth. Avoid plastic and remove coverings at sunrise, when temperatures are warmer
• Water during the day or before bed. Wet soil can prevent damage to roots because moist soil holds more heat than dry ground. 

Panovich also warned people to conserve energy when possible despite the cold. Duke Energy experienced rolling blackouts on Christmas Eve and Christmas in 2022 during frigid weather. The utility provider blamed a “unique chain of events” for the blackouts that impacted approximately 15% of its customer base, or around 500,000 accounts. Last week, Duke vowed to be better prepared for cold weather, citing improvements to its infrastructure and the power to purchase power from other states as measures that could help reduce outages. 

“With increased power demand, try to conserve energy whenever possible,” Panovich said. “Also, these cold snaps increase the risk of fires and carbon monoxide. So ensure you’re using safe heating sources and that all smoke and CO detectors work with good batteries.”

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