Winter weather update (as of 4:30 p.m. on 1/21/25): The National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory and a Winter Weather Advisory for the Fort Mill area. The NWS is predicting extremely cold temperatures from 7 p.m. this evening through noon on Wednesday, Jan. 22. Temperatures are expected to drop to a low of 17 degrees and wind chills as low as 7 degrees below zero (-7 degrees) are expected. There is also a 30 percent chance of snow, mostly before 9 p.m. On Wednesday, temperatures are expected to reach a high of 32 degrees and a low on Wednesday night of 14 degrees.
During these extreme temperatures, protect yourself from the cold with the following tips:
-Wearing several layers of loose fitting, lightweight clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing.
-Mittens are warmer than gloves and always wear a hat and scarf if possible.
-Keep your car fueled to avoid ice in the tank and fuel lines.
-Check on friends, family and neighbors, especially those who are most vulnerable to extreme temperatures.
-Don’t forget about pets and livestock. Make sure they have access to water that will not freeze and that they have a warm place to take shelter.
Residents are reminded to protect the pipes in their homes with the following tips:
-Allow indoor plumbing fixtures to drip to allow water to trickle through pipes and stop freezing.
-Open cabinet doors under sinks to let warm air circulate and keep pipes from freezing.
-Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots
- Shut off and drain automatic lawn sprinkler systems
-Insulate pipes in unheated parts of your home
-Locate your water shut-off valve in the event of a burst pipe
-If your pipes do freeze, you can open faucets slightly, turn off your home water supply, turn up the heat in your house, wrap frozen pipes with towels soaked in hot water; or contact a plumber for help.
For more information about how to protect yourself from the cold or about local utilities and emergency services in the event of severe weather, please visit www.fortmillsc.gov/WinterWeather.