A lot of people are about to be hit with a big winter storm who are not used to this kind of weather. Here are some tips from a Minnesotan:
Keeping warm:
-
avoid cotton fabrics.
-
Use layers, take them off if you start to sweat.
-
I like tight gloves with thick mittens, which allows use of your hands sometimes without skin exposure.
-
A face mask works as a scarf or another layer in a pinch
-
Warm up your home in case you lose power. Power outages may happen after the snow/freezing rain stops
Snow removal:
-
Lift with your legs, not your back.
-
Don’t save all of the shoveling for the very end of the storm, it’ll be more difficult and will start to create an ice layer (especially where walked on)
-
if you have a car, lift up the windshield wipers before it starts snowing/freezing rain
-
Completely clean your car soon after the storm. In most places, it’s illegal to drive with a lot of snow/ice on your car and super dangerous.
-
If you’re parked on a street, move the car to a plowed area when possible so they can plow where you were parked
-
If you have a driveway, clear off part of the street in the direction the plow will come from, so that doesn’t end up blocking your driveway
Driving
-
stay home until streets are plowed if possible (thank you healthcare workers and emergency responders!)
-
Turn on ABS brake and traction control settings, if available
-
accelerate and take turns slowly
-
Have more time/distance to brake
-
Speed up before going up an incline, getting stuck and sliding back down is not fun
Sliding on ice:
-
If walking, keep your feet underneath your center of gravity
-
If driving, switch to neutral and steer in the direction that the back of the car is sliding, but don’t overreact on steering. Slamming brakes will make sliding worse.
Car stuck in snow:
-
turn off traction control
-
don’t just let the tires spin out
-
try shoveling, sand/kitty litter, and rocking back and forth
-
Once you get moving again, don’t stop
Edit: if you do lose power, have a faucet or two drip water to prevent the pipes from freezing and bursting
Edit 2: if you see ICE, follow these steps
A helpful list! I think an additional point worth mentioning is that a heated blanket can keep you warm while consuming much less electricity than a space heater can.
There are heated clothing as well that use regular power banks as energy source. Not that expensive but makes quite the difference. Another benefit is that you can turn it off when you go indoors instead of undressing to not start sweating like a pig.
My son is a mechanic so it’s often chilly at work. He uses those rechargeable hand warmers in his shirt pockets.
When my mechanic had decided to sell his shop, he got rid of his heating bill for the last few months he had to work and he used a vest from snap on (branded snap on anyway) that had rechargeable warmers in it. Was kind of neat. He said it worked surprisingly well as long as he remembered to keep it charged
Question for people who live in colder climates - why is it always so hot indoors? When I’ve been in new York, Chicago, Milwaukee, etc. in the winter it’s miserable inside. It’s 12 degrees outside and you step into a restaurant or shop where it feels like it’s 80 degrees. You’re immediately sweating because you have a jacket, gloves, etc. and you have to find someplace to put them.
I wonder if those places do a better job of being less drafty because it’s easier to know there’s a draft when it’s really cold.
It would help keep hot air inside if so which might explain why it’s so hot
Hey South Western British Columbian here, please send me as much of your snow as you feel comfortable giving us
Swede here, when driving, drive as if there is a raw egg between your foot and the pedals.
Also, winter tires makes a huge difference, here they are mandatory, but you should get/use them as well even if they are not.
Do brake tests! Make sure you have a clear road ahead and no one behind you, break hardish, and remember how far you slid.
If you know you need to stop just after a hidden bend in the road, make sure to start braking before the curve, this is to light up your brake lights, giving other, less attentive drivers the chance to stop earlier.
Remember that you don’t HAVE to drive the speed limit, you should adjust your speed to suit the conditions.
Unless in an emergency, never ever make a quick, sharp turn when driving in snow
drive as if there is a raw egg between your foot and the pedals.
Excuse me, what?
Yes, it is a common expression here, it makes you slow down your pedal movements to be slow, light and careful, just what you need when driving on slippery roads.
An egg can take quite a bit of force, if you apply it carefully.
So like you’re trying not to break an egg under your foot?
Correct
Thanks!
Yeah also thanks because I thought they meant like the raw inside of the egg. Like the yolk and white all over the bottom of your foot and the pedals making it very slippery.
In this case the raw egg is still inside the shell. They makes a lot more sense that what my brain conjured up.
Though all that being said it does things me of the anime Initial D
The main character makes deliveries for his dad and his dad puts a cup of water in the cup holder and says not to spill any. That’s how he teaches his son to drive without breaking the tofu he is delivering.
That being if he doesn’t spill any water he is driving smoothly and with care.
Which is actually a reoccurring challenge on the Canada’s Worst Driver show. Season one is actually a great watch for winter driving skills
Remember that you don’t HAVE to drive the speed limit, you should adjust your speed to suit the conditions.
Really sad that this needs to be mentioned…
(Except for unneccessary slow driving like 30 kph in a 50 zone for no reason other than being old/unsure/eyes are not working properly. If that is the case, please go see a doctor)Unessesarily and for no reason mean the same thing in that sentence, you can omit either one and it makes more sense. Less is more in this instance. But perhaps you know this already and it was intentional. If so apologies
