Are you a fan of wrap?
Jack Frost is.
And he’ll have you wrapping pipes, yourself and whatever else you need kept warm as subfreezing weather hangs around the North Olympic Peninsula till midweek.
Temperatures are expected to remain near or below freezing on Monday and Tuesday, creating the right conditions for black ice and burst pipes.
Homeowners should insulate their pipes or leave a faucet dripping to prevent pipes from freezing, advised Lee Whetham, a representative of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union in Sequim.
“Anytime that the temperature doesn’t come above freezing more than a couple of days, that’s when the temperature starts going in and getting underneath homes,” he said.
Brian Young of Serenity House of Clallam County’s single adult shelter, 2321 W. 18th St., Port Angeles, said he expects more homeless people in freezing weather.
The shelter is at capacity for men, but Young added: “We always try to make room for them.”
To contact the Serenity House single adult shelter, phone 360-452-7221.
Serenity House also offers a nightly shelter for the homeless at 520 E. First St., Port Angeles. It opens at 9 p.m.
The current cold snap is more difficult for the homeless in Port Townsend: A winter shelter for those in need won’t open until next Sunday, Nov. 28, at the American Legion Hall, 209 Monroe St.
At least the weather should remain relatively dry, according to weather forecasters.
Any new snow accumulation will remain below half an inch, according to the National Weather Service.
That applies to both the hills and lowlands, said Dennis D’Amico, Weather Service meteorologist.
“Most of the precipitation with this next event looks like is going to be farther to the south,” he said.
Snow accumulation on Saturday appeared to be restricted to higher elevations.
D’Amico said a citizen weather observer living at 900 feet elevation about 2.5 miles southwest of Port Angeles reported that about an inch of snow had fallen by 11 a.m.
The Olympic Peninsula Humane Society, which serves Clallam County, is “bursting at the seams” with animals but will accept any strays that are in need of a warm place to sleep, said Kimberly Turner, animal care technician.
Jenny Haynes of the Jefferson County Humane Society said the shelter has room for dogs but are “getting a little tight on cats.”
The Olympic Peninsula Humane Society at 2105 W. U.S. Highway 101 in Port Angeles can be reached at 360-457-8206. Hours are noon to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The Jefferson County animal shelter at 112 Critter Lane in Port Townsend can be reached at 360-385-3292. Shelter hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
