With temperatures still well below typical averages for this time of year, it’s no longer an option for Grand Rapids Community College students to ignore the winter weather. Fortunately, today will be the coldest day of the week, according to Meteorologist Nathan Jeruzal of the National Weather Service.
“The rest of the week we’re expecting temperatures to moderate,” he said. “We may reach 30 (degrees) on Thursday.”
That’s good news for travelers, since salt won’t melt ice on the roads under 20 degrees.
Lenny Breneman, from Christian Brothers Automotive, recommends getting your tires, windshield wipers and especially your battery checked. Cold weather causes old car batteries to lose their charge.
Jeruzal also recommends having a survival kit in your vehicle, even if it’s just a couple blankets to help keep you warm while a tow truck arrives.
“In this kind of cold it takes 15 minutes to get frostbite,” Jeruzal said. “Limit your exposure.”
Jeruzal expects the below-average temperatures to continue through February.
Clayton Cummins contributed to this story.
Photos by Joshua Vissers, Lauren Winther, Kimberly Adams and Lois Walker.
