Even though Easter has already been celebrated and Spring is here, it’s not too late in the year for a freeze. Parts of Lea County may be in for one on Wednesday morning.
The National Weather Service has issued a “Freeze Watch” for Northern and Central Lea County. The watch is effective Wednesday morning, April 21st, from 03:00 a.m. until 08:00 a.m. The event is predicted with “moderate certainty”.
Temperatures will likely drop to just above freezing or near freezing – from 27 to 32 degrees. According to a statement from the National Weather Service Midland-Odessa, areas affected are “… the northern half of Lea County and the northwest and north parts of the Permian Basin.”
Weather.gov states: “Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing.”
To protect your plants from damage as a result of these potentially cold, freezing conditions, cover them with old blankets and/or towels. Wrap and drain outside water pipes or allow pipes to drip slowly to avoid freezing and subsequent bursting.
Outdoor sprinklers systems also need special attention. They should be drained and above ground pipes should be covered to guard against possible freezing.
According to the Red Cross outdoor pipes that are most likely to freeze are: outdoor hose bibs, water sprinkler lines; and swimming pool pipes. Pipes in unheated interior areas like basements, attics, crawls spaces and garages can also be problematic, as well as those that run along poorly insulated exterior walls.
HomeownerFAQs suggests that the oldest method of protecting pipes and spigots is to wrap them with old towels and rags. Be sure to wrap tightly. Then, “… wrap duct tape around the towel. Another option is to use another towel, tying it into a knot around the ‘insulating’ layer to ensure it stays in place,” states the HomeownerFAQs website.
