Winter Storm Cleon: Ice Storms and Power Outages

From now through Sunday, December 8th, Winter Storm Cleon will be dumping rain, ice, and snow from Dallas, Texas to Maine. As northwestern arctic air moves south, it will meet increased moisture from the southwestern United States.

This will mean more snowfall for western Colorado, bringing their storm totals up to 1-2 feet of snow. Worse news however is the path of dangerous ice storms and the likelihood of widespread power outages.

If you don't already have a home standby or emergency backup generator, now may be a good time to invest in at least a portable emergency generator in case there is a major power outage in the area you live in. Portable generators are affordable and easy to stow away when they're not being used. Electric Generators Direct has an in-depth buyer's guide to help you find the perfect model for your home.

The path of ice and power outages is expected to cover the following areas:

• Dallas, Texas
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Memphis, Tennessee
• St. Louis, Missouri
• Paducah, Kentucky
• Columbus, Ohio
• Albany, New York
• Boston, Massachusetts

Other areas closely surrounding these cities will be effected as well.

With temperatures rapidly dropping, a major power outage could be detrimental for those living in the path of this storm. If you don't already have a backup emergency generator in place, we strongly suggest you consider one now. You can have one shipped directly to your home on short notice, so it's not too late. 

We have many in-stock that can be shipped to you overnight. We also recommend using a generator canopy like a GenTent to shield the generator from freezing rain and ice. Remember never to run a generator in your home or garage as the carbon monoxide from the engine is very deadly.

If you need assistance determining what portable generator you will need for your home, you can speak with me or another generator expert by calling 1 (800) 800-3317.

Pick a Size - But Not Any Size

As you're shopping portable generators for the first time, you may find yourself overwhelmed with options. Your first question will likely be "What size generator do I need?"

The size of the generator will usually reflect its power. If you need more starting amperage to get powered up, you're going to likely need a bigger portable generator.

To determine how large of a generator you really need, you can follow the formula posted below.

Starting Amps x Volts = Watts

The starting amperage load will be much larger than the running load, which is why proper calculations need to be made to properly size your unit.

Because every home is different, I recommend having a certified electrician do your wattage calculation.