Is Your Business in the Central Plains? Here’s How to Prepare For This Weekend’s Late-Season Freeze

We can see it ahead, the light at the end of the tunnel—spring is less than two weeks away. But before we get there, the Central Plains are in for some final winter jabs, which include a round of bone-chilling air to end the week.

So, what’s going on with the weather? As always, we have to look to our west to see what’s developing and heading our way, which will be a storm system forming over the Rockies. With frigid air being pulled in behind this system from southern Canada, it will get very cold very quickly with temperatures falling into the 20s and 30s from west-central Texas through west-central Oklahoma, central Kansas, and south-central Nebraska.

Tomorrow.io’s Map shows winter weather advisories already in effect over the Rockies and into the Central Plains as we move into the weekend.

Overnight lows will also plunge into the teens and even single digits for a couple days before slowly climbing back to around freezing by the end of the weekend. Along with these colder temperatures, the region will also see wind gusts, making the wind chill or feels-like temperature even lower than the air temperature.

For business owners, this forecast means more than just a chilly inconvenience. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself, your employees, and your assets during this late-season freeze:

Aviation

Tomorrow.io’s Insights Dashboard shows an Alert to implement cold weather protocols at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

The Risks:

• Increased delays for flights due to ice removal
• Increased chance of ice and frost impacting OTP
• Increased chance of on-the-job injuries

Actions to Consider:

• Proactively manage flights in affected areas
• Increase staff in advance of deicing needs
• Make sure staff have proper attire to protect themselves from frostbite and hypothermia and ability to take breaks indoors to warm up as needed

Learn more about other ways to mitigate aviation-specific risks >

Sports & Entertainment

Tomorrow.io’s Insights Dashboard shows an Alert for Globe Life Park in Arlington, TX to stock up on hot drinks and food in preparation for extreme cold.

The Risks

• Increased occurrence of athlete injury
• Negative fan experience
• Missed retail and merchandising opportunities

Actions to Consider

• Delay games and events in path of storm
• Salt sidewalks and parking lots
• Alert ticket holders of conditions for transportation to and from venue

Learn more about other ways to mitigate sports-specific risks >

On-Demand

Tomorrow.io’s Insights Dashboard shows an increase in demand for on-demand services, thanks to extreme cold, in Denver, CO Friday night into Saturday.

The Risks

• Increase in vehicle accidents
• Lack of staff to meet surge in demand
• Reduced customer satisfaction from delays and cancellations

Actions to Consider

• Alert drivers to ensure safer routes
• Incentivize staff to drive in advance of demand surge
• Cancel fleet deployment during peak of storm

Learn more about other ways to mitigate on-demand-specific risks >

Energy & Utilities

Tomorrow.io’s Insights Dashboard shows the need to prepare assets for extreme cold in Lubbock, TX beginning late Friday.

The Risks:

• Power outages from surge in demand 
• Reduced power generation capacity 
• Disrupted fuel procurement 

Actions to Consider:

• Increase reserves to meet demand 
• Alert residential customers to prepare for potential outages 
• Secure physical assets

Learn more about other ways to mitigate energy & utilities-specific risks >

Logistics

Tomorrow.io’s Insights Dashboard shows Alerts to consider reducing truck speeds in Kansas City due to moderate ice and winds throughout the weekend.

The Risks

• Damaged freight (perishables, chemicals, paints, etc.)
• Reduced production of goods and products
• Diesel fuel and fluid freezing causing equipment problems or failure
• Interrupted routes, supply paths and shipment schedules

Actions to Consider

• Advise drivers to reduce speed on icy roads
• Fuel up on winter weight diesel fuel 
• Lower shipping containers & 
• Alert key suppliers, manufacturing locations, ports, and supply paths about unfavorable conditions overall

Learn more about other ways to mitigate logistics-specific risks >

Agriculture

The Risks:

• Freezing water sources and pipes
• Impacts to livestock and staff
• Damage to crops 

Actions to Consider:

• Make sure livestock have the proper shelter and access to their feed
• Ensure that all staff have the proper attire to work outdoors and access to facilities to warm up
• Take precautions for crops ahead of temperature drop

Learn How Weather-Related Risk is Impacting Your Business