Colder conditions set in tonight with temperatures getting in the low 20s

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- It was the coldest temperatures of the season so far on Wednesday morning.

Most woke up with temperatures in the low 20s to high teens. Highs today will be in the 40s.

The cold temperatures have forced numerous Wake County schools to dismiss early throughout the week.

Numerous schools have had to send students home early this week.

This follows the appearance of snow flurries in some areas Monday and Tuesday.

The winter conditions melted away within hours.

Starting Monday night and each morning through Wednesday morning, feels-like temperatures will drop into the teens to mid-20s. On Tuesday, highs will be in the mid-40s. Sunshine will raise temperatures into the 50s by Thursday.

As of Monday, it had been 1,038 days since RDU has had measurable snow.

Another push of even colder air arrives Thursday night and most of Friday will be in the 30s. It will be the coldest air in the area since January.

Get Prepped

Some Sandhills residents are getting their homes ready for the frigid weather. Experts in plumbing and heating systems said that people should open their cabinets, keep their faucets dripping, and disconnect their water hoses.

As the Sandhills prepare to see frigid weather, plumbers and HVAC workers have advice to protect your pipes and home from the elements.

They also encourage people to monitor their electricity, change their filters, and make sure nothing is blocking their vents.

They say frozen pipes can be especially dangerous.

"The easiest is going to be to open your cabinet if it's on an exterior wall only and you're just going to leave that open overnight," said Phillip Woods of Woods Plumbing Service. "That's all you're going to do. Faucets, we're just going to get a nice -- it doesn't have to be a steady stream, but you want a nice, frequent drip, though. And you want to do hot and cold."

Taking these simple cautions may prevent big headaches later.

"A lot of times, your frozen pipe is under the home or in the wall," Woods said. "By the time you notice that, you've destroyed the floor, subfloor joists. When you get to the joists, it's becoming a disaster here, going from just, you know, getting it repaired to now you're remodeling half your house."

Joshua Geercken of Blanton's Air, Plumbing & Electric, said it's better to be proactive than reactive.

Geercken also advised homeowners to check their electricity, drains, and vent piping for their furnaces.

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Looking Ahead

Wednesday: Bright and brisk. Plenty of sunshine. Highs in the 40s.

Thursday: Milder, still breezy. Mostly sunny. High of 57.

Friday: Turning colder, partly cloudy. High of 43.

Saturday: A mixture of sun and clouds. High of 47.

Sunday: Mostly sunny. High of 53.

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