Groundhog, National Weather Service both make dire predictions

Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his den in Pennsylvania to see his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter.

He won't get much of an argument around Southwest Nebraska.

If predictions come true, it might be six weeks before we see the ground again, never mind our shadows.

As this was being written, the National Weather Service had issued a blizzard warning for our area, predicting as much as 14 to 16 inches of snow along a line from Limon, Colorado, to McCook, as well as 20-35 mph winds with gusts to 45 mph.

If that doesn't get your attention, we don't know what will. The unseasonably warm weather we've been enjoying for the past few days definitely seems to be coming to an end.

We imagine the grocery stores will be wall-to-wall today as people stock up on necessities -- and probably some not-so-necessary items, and it's a good idea to be prepared.

There's still time to get ready.

* Have candles, matches or lighters, a battery operated radio, emergency food supplies and plenty of blankets on hand. Bottled water and staples like powdered milk and protein bars are a good idea as well.

* If you have an alternative heat source, make sure it won't generate dangerous carbon monoxide fumes.

* Stay at home. If you are on the road, find a hotel or motel and stay there until conditions are safe again.

* If you do get stuck, make sure you keep a window cracked in case your exhaust pipe gets blocked. Better yet, run the engine in short bursts to warm the interior, then shut it off. And, hope you packed plenty of blankets, water and emergency supplies.

* Have a bag of warm clothes for each person in the household. Have board games and/or a deck of cards on hand in case you're snowbound for a long time.

* Stock up your blizzard kit with things like a battery operated radio or television and plenty of batteries, flashlights, bottled water, toilet paper, nonperishable foods such as cereal or crackers, canned goods, a manual can opener, a small cooler, candles, prescription medicines and over-the-counter remedies you use regularly, and, if needed, diapers, baby wipes, formula and baby food.

* Stock up on shovels and snow-removal equipment before the storm hits. You may also want to cover the windows and doors to keep drafts at a minimum if the heat goes out.

* Consider buying an emergency generator, and make sure your cell phone is always charged up.

* Most importantly, stay inside where it's safe, warm and you're out of danger.

We wouldn't be disappointed if both Punxsutawney Phil and the National Weather Service were wrong in their predictions. Nevertheless, it's better to be safe than sorry.