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Fort Smith/Fayetteville News | 5newsonline KFSM 5NEWS | Get the local news and weather where you live from 5NEWS. Covering Fort Smith, Fayetteville, Bentonville, and all of Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.

Extreme Weather

Winter driving safety: 5 Fast Facts

Weather

Do not plug space heaters into extension cords or power strips

If you’re using a space heater to stay warm, plug it directly into a wall outlet. Extension cords or power strips can overheat, and potentially start a fire.
Winter Guide

No, it is not safe to use an oven to heat your home

Ovens aren’t designed to heat your home. They also pose risks of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning if they are left on for prolonged periods of time.
Winter Guide

Yes, tire pressure does drop when the weather gets colder

If you’ve noticed your car has a deflated tire or even a tire pressure warning light on a cold morning, then you can curse physics before adding air to your tires.
Winter Guide

No, drinking alcohol doesn’t help you stay warm in cold weather

Contrary to popular belief, drinking an alcoholic beverage doesn’t help keep you warm in the cold. It actually cools you down instead.
Extreme Weather

Protecting your home’s pipes in winter weather: VERIFY Fact Sheet

Worried about pipes bursting during cold weather? We VERIFY questions about running appliances, dripping pipes and turning off water.
Pets

Dog winter safety: VERIFY Fact Sheet

Worried about keeping your dog safe in freezing weather? We VERIFY answers to common questions about dogs in ice and snow.
Weather

Yes, warming up your car before driving in cold weather can damage the engine over time

Excessive idling can cause engine damage, and experts agree that modern gas-powered engines don’t need to warm up to run effectively.
Fast Facts

What’s a bomb cyclone? 4 Fast Facts about the winter storm

VERIFY is answering four top questions about bomb cyclones, including how the storms form and why they differ from hurricanes.
Extreme Weather

Starlink’s promise of free service after hurricanes is misleading

Elon Musk’s satellite internet company offered Helene, Milton victims a free month of access. But there’s a $400 catch.
Extreme Weather

Elon’s Starlink promise to Helene, Milton victims misleading

The SpaceX company promised a free month of satellite internet connection to hurricane victims in Florida and North Carolina, but for most it will cost hundreds.
Extreme Weather

No, a ‘1,000-year storm’ doesn’t mean it only happens once every 1,000 years

Meteorologists aren’t referring to the last time a storm of this magnitude happened when they say “100-year” or “1,000-year storm.” We VERIFY what the term means.