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This page aims to collate helpful information to help you be prepared for winter and its unpredictable weather.
Severe weather can cause disruption to Council services and the wellbeing of people.
You can see if we have any notable service disruptions on our current service disruptions webpage.
For updates on weather, forecasts and warnings, go to the Met Office website. For updates focused on our area locally, go to the North Kesteven District Council Facebook page or the North Kesteven District Council Twitter account
Sometimes schools have to close due to bad weather. To find out which schools have been affected, you can see a list of updates on the Lincolnshire County Council School Closure page Alternatively you can tune in to BBC Radio Lincolnshire (94.9 FM & 104.7 FM), LincsFM (102.2 FM) or check the updated list on the LincsFM website
You can find a map of road closures and possible delays on the One.Network website
You can see a map of gritting routes on the Lincolnshire County Council website. The Lincolnshire County Council website also contains information on grit bins and snow clearing
Large refuse collection vehicles suffer the same problems as other vehicles on icy roads, making it dangerous for members of the public and our staff to have these vehicles on the road.
During severe winter weather, assessments are made to establish if it's safe for collection and street cleaning crews to carry out their normal duties. If there are no concerns, crews proceed with collection and cleaning duties where possible.
If there is a delay or suspension to our bin collections, you can find out more information on our current service disruptions webpage.
Please note that our refuse vehicles are considerably bigger than a car. Things such as stopping distances and access to residential estates can be easily affected by the weather. We may make decisions on collection delays or suspensions if we believe there is a risk that our vehicles could become an additional hazard.
Keeping the heating on in winter is really important for keeping warm and well. Sometimes simply sitting or sleeping in cold rooms can cause existing medical conditions to get worse. This can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and other life threatening illnesses.
Make sure your home is heated to at least 18°C and wear lots of thinner layers. This will keep you warmer than one thick layer. Try not to sit still for more than an hour - take regular breaks to make a hot drink and move around a bit.
You can find more information and advice on our keeping warm and saving energy webpages.
See the government's cold weather action plan for individuals
Here are eight top tips for being prepared for severe weather provided by the Met Office.
Wearing high visibility clothing (which can be purchased from many retailers) can make it easier for other road users, especially drivers, to see pedestrians and cyclists. High-visibility clothing is made of fluorescent material with added reflective tape or shapes.
Fluorescent colours appear to glow, increasing daytime visibility, with the effect being stronger in poor light conditions such as in fog or towards dusk. However, fluorescent colours don't show up in the dark. At night, light from sources such as car headlights bounces off the reflective areas to make the tape glow, increasing night time visibility.
We all know how fickle the British weather can be and, whilst most of us enjoy sunny weather, extreme heat can be a hazard to your health. We hope that our advice will help keep North Kesteven residents safe.
Please follow the following links for advice:
Residents are advised to:
Check the local weather forecast and, if a heatwave is forecast, try and plan your day in a way that allows you to stay out of the heat.
If you can, avoid going out in the hottest part of the day (11am to 3pm).
If you must go out, stay in the shade. Wear a hat and light, loose-fitting clothes, preferably cotton. If you will be outside or travelling by car or public transport for some time, take plenty of water with you.
Heatstroke can develop very suddenly so, if you suspect that you or someone else has heatstroke, call 999 immediately.
Further information is available from:
Your local GP or pharmacy
Call the NHS non-emergency number on 111