Winter weather is on its way. Or so says the National Weather Service:

Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Seattle WA
3:58 pm PST Sun Nov 14 2010

A change to much colder conditions is possible Friday into next weekend…

Cold air is expected to develop over western Canada during the upcoming week. There are strong indications that changes in the wind flow aloft toward the end of the week will allow some of this colder air over western Canada to filter into western Washington Friday or Saturday.

Weather guidance also suggests that there is a risk of snow…or mixed rain and snow showers over portions of the area Friday or Saturday. The highest risk will be where the air is colder…over the north interior.

While weather guidance has been consistent in showing a change to a colder weather pattern…they have been uneven in showing how cold it will get and how much…if any…snow will fall.

Now would be a good time to think about how you could prepare for the first possibility of winter weather conditions in the lowlands. Are your tires ready for snow covered roadways? Are your outdoor pipes and faucets winterized?

All indications are that we’re going to have a cold and snowy winter. Are you prepared? No? We can help!

The Washington State Library has updated the Cold Weather resources on its Hard Times Resource Guide. Check it out for a quick list of resources to help with disaster preparedness, flood preparation and recovery, weatherization tips, and even resources on how to keep your pets safe and happy throughout the cold winter months.

Welcome to the first installation of the Hard Times Resource Guide: Resource of the Week. Every week we’ll highlight a resource we think is of particular value from our Hard Times Resource Guide. Check out these and other great resources on the Resource Guide web site: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/library/hardtimes/.

This week we’re highlighting a great resource in the “Finances and Money Management” section of the Guide, the Washington Financial Education Clearinghouse page made available by Washington’s Department of Financial Institutions.

Check it out at http://dfi.wa.gov/financial-education/.

This resource is filled with great information. Featured resources on the page right now include financial resources for the unemployed, and tips on how to talk to your kids about the current crisis. On top of these great resources, there is further information on credit, deposit insurance, identity theft, interest rates, investment, foreclosure, mortgages, payday loans, predatory lending, and lots more!

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