East Tennessee experiencing 'hazardous weather'

New Year’s Day isn’t normally a hectic day in Knoxville but the frigid temperatures kept many who may have braved the New Year inside.

The National Weather Service in Morristown announced a hazardous weather outlook Monday afternoon that is in place for all of East Tennessee. In it, the weather service said “dangerously cold” air and wind will result in temperatures and wind chills not suitable for people.

On the site’s discussion page, the weather service said, “Tonight will be even colder than last night if you can believe it! Lows will be in the single digits for most areas with many areas only a few degrees above zero.”

The weather service also released a diagram with pointers and instructions for preparing for the cold. If people must be outside, it said, they should dress in at least three layers of clothing with a warm hat and waterproof boots.

^{The National Weather Service released this diagram with pointers and instructions for preparing for the cold.}

To prevent frozen pipes, the American Red Cross recommends opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate. Let cold water drip from faucets served by exposed pipes. Running water — even at a trickle — helps prevent pipes from freezing, according to the Red Cross website.

The Red Cross also recommends keeping the thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and at night, instead of lowering it at night. If you will be away from home during cold weather, leave the heat on, set to no lower than 55 degrees, the Red Cross said.

If you are traveling, bringing extra blankets and other gear in your car could be a big help in case of a breakdown.

Campbell County shelter

The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office posted on their Facebook page Monday afternoon that a shelter would be open at the old West LaFollette school at 5 p.m. due to the cold temperatures.

“We aren’t expecting a huge crowd because it is short notice but we want to offer a warm place if needed,” the post read.