Severe and unpredictable weather

Disruptions

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.

Weather updates

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

School closures

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) or check the updated list on the LincsFM website.

Road closures

You can find a map of road closures and possible delays on the One.Network website

Driving in severe weather

Do not travel unless absolutely necessary
Allow plenty of time for your journey and at least 10 minutes to defrost your vehicle
Clear all windows of snow and ice using a scraper and de-icer
Use a cigarette lighter to warm a key for a frozen lock - don't breathe on the lock, as the moisture will condense and freeze
Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged for all journeys. You should also carry a torch, a first-aid kit, a tow rope, blankets, a warm coat, a pair of boots, jump leads, a snow shovel, a warning triangle, an old sack or rug (to put under wheels if you do get stuck) and water repellent spray
Always put safety before punctuality when bad weather closes in!

Gritting and clearing snow

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

Bin collections

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.

Stay warm in your home

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.

Protecting your property

Here are eight top tips for being prepared for severe weather provided by the Met Office.

Know what to do in a power cut. It's now really simple to get in touch with your Electricity Distribution Network Operator - just call 105.
Ensure you're insured. Sometimes no amount of planning and preparation can prevent the weather damaging your property. Buildings insurance offers peace of mind, so ensure your policy is up to date and covers what you need it to.
Avoid flying garden furniture. When high winds are forecast, remember that some everyday items in the garden can become 'missiles'. Most winters we see pictures of airborne trampolines and garden furniture.
Check your roof. Before it gets windy it's also worth checking for loose tiles, slates and flashing and consider removing dead branches from old trees.
Clear your guttering. As leaves start to fall, there’s a risk that wind will blow leaves into your gutters and drainpipes will get filled up. If this builds up, the water will go back into the guttering and leak into the roof and sides of your house.
Trim up. To avoid build-up of leaves in the guttering, the best thing to do is to prune your trees before winter really kicks in. This can also help with avoiding snow building up on the trees, which with it brings the risk of damage from broken branches.
Don't leave yourself open to frozen and burst pipes. It's important to make sure water pipes and water tanks in the loft are insulated with good quality lagging. This will not only protect from freezing but it will help insulate your hot water system and save your money.
Check your flood risk. Check if your home is at risk of flooding, and sign up for free flood warnings on the floods destroy website

Be bright, be seen

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.

Heat wave advice

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