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Winter Weather Watch

When the weather gets bad over winter, it seems like everything gets affected.

That's why Reading 107 is here, to give you all the rolling updates of school closures, travel news, canceled events, and all the tips and info you need to stay safe.


If severe weather hits the Reading area, the Reading 107 Winter Weather Watch with Mitsubishi Motor’s Reading keeps you updated with everything you need, both on-air and online.


The Reading 107 Winter Weather Watch with Mitsubishi Motor’s Reading.


So you can be in the know before we run into local weather trouble, check out these great tips to stay one step ahead of the bad weather:

Travel
  • Always make sure you have warm clothes in the car in case you become stuck. It doesn't hurt to keep some food in the glove compartment, and keep an emergency triangle and torch in the boot, as well as a good shovel (for when it's really bad). And make sure your mobile is charged up too.
  • If you break down, try your best not to abandon the car in the middle of the road. Abandoned cars are one of the main reasons that snowploughs and even emergency vehicles have such a hard time getting through.
  • If you have to go out, leave plenty of time for your journey. Scrape off all the ice and snow - including the snow on your roof. If you have to break and that snow slides onto your windscreen, you'll be blinded.
  • Top up your windscreen washer during the cold spell. Washers can be clogged up with the salt and spray from the roads.
  • Don't break suddenly. Stay in low gears - especially when approaching bends. Keep your lights on at all times in slightly darker conditions, and check to make sure the front and back lights are working properly. Keep a good distance between yourself and the person in front too, as it can take up to 10 times longer to stop in icy conditions.
  • Make sure all of your windows are clear and de-mist them if they're fogged up. It's not just dangerous to try and drive with your vision impaired through the glass, it's illegal too.

In Your Local Area
  • Are there elderly residents living down your road? Please keep an eye out for them. Are their curtains closed all the time? Have you seen then recently? Are their newspapers/milk bottles/etc mounting up by the front door?
  • Of course, if it's hard for you to get everyday things done, it's twice and tough for any elderly neighbours you might have. Why not offer to help them out? You could do some shopping for their bare essentials, or post letters for them. Make sure their heating is working properly and they are wearing lots of thin layers rather than one thick layer.
  • Ensure they have their heating on a timer.

In Your Home
  • Ensure that no autumn leaves are blocked in your drains. Turn off outside taps to avoid burst water pipes. Place lagging around your pipes in the loft to keep warm air around them. If you're away for a day or more, open your loft to let warmer air flow up there, and keep your heating on at a low, constant level. In case a pipe bursts, know where your stopcock is.
  • Get your boiler serviced before the bad weather sets in to avoid a potentially cold house.
  • Keep wellies and waterproofs to hand.
  • If you're in an area prone to flooding, or if you think that you're likely to get a water leak, either try to get hold of sandbags, or make your own with pillows and sand.
  • In case of a power cut, place candles and matches in an easily accessible location in case of a power cut. Stock up on tinned foods in case you're snowed in.
  • Insulate your loft and windows.
  • There's a chance your local council won't be able to collect your bin rubbish in the bad weather conditions. If that's the case, leave your bin out, check out their website for details about when they expect the bin collections to continue.
  • Have you got an electric blanket? Ensure it's a safety-tested one.
  • In case you're snowed in, try and plan for those unpredictable problems, like illness. Make sure you've got a good stock of aspirin, paracetamol, plasters, cold medicine, and your prescription medicine, so minor illness can be dealt with at home.
  • Flooding is always a higher risk in winter with bursting pipes, etc. Take a moment to check your home and contents insurance to ensure you have adequate cover. Keep the policy number and emergency contact number to hand in case you need it.

Contact Numbers
  • You're our eyes on Reading's roads, so remember to keep us informed on the Jamline, so we can let everyone else know what's going on: 0118 945 08 05.
  • NHS Direct: 0845 46 47
  • National Floodline: 0845 988 1188
  • Help the Aged: 0808 800 6565