If you never lived where it snows and were moving North to where it does snow, what would you have liked to have known? What would you do to prepare?
When driving in snow or icy roads it’s worth knowing that there are times where it’s best not to panic and slam on the brakes. Sometimes it’s safer to take your foot off of both the brake and gas pedals particularly if there is little danger of colliding with what’s in front of you. Every fiber in your body may be telling you to hit the brakes but you have to ignore it, similar to encountering a bear in the wild and your body wants to run. It’s counterintuitive. I highly suggest finding an empty parking lot full of snow and driving around. Try to make the car slide. It’s best to learn in an environment like this. Same thing goes for when your car drives through a puddle of water or just as importantly when half your car drives through a puddle. Two tires locking up while the other two get no traction can cause a spin out or loss of control.
Staying dry is just as important as staying warm. Melting snow on a mild day can soak your feet. Sweating from dressing too warm can make you clammy and cold. Minor adjustments in your clothing like removing or adding a hat or gloves can make a big difference. A scarf or neck gaitor can make a big difference.
Another driving one… check your driving app of choice for traffic before you’re leaving the house. Be patient. Know when to put your foot down and tell your boss it’s just not worth it.
Lastly, take up a winter activity. You may find yourself (like me) looking forward to winter. Buy cross-country skis and it will never snow enough
If it snows much at all, get some waterproof boots that either have insulation or plenty of room for socks. Get ones either intended for snow or look similar to ones that are, as soles of boots have different traction in snow than dirt just like tires. They don’t need to be marshmallow looking snow boots, just purpose made winter boots.
Snow pants and a good winter coat is good for keeping dry while shoveling snow. Dress in layers, so that you can remove one or two if you start to get warm. If exerting yourself avoid sweating by going a little lighter than you would when stationary or walking as sweat will.make you a lot colder. If you can find and handle wool it is absolutely amazing at keeping you dry, even if it gets wet, and it is a lot better at leeping you a constant temp through a wide variety of temps.
Where I live we get strong winds, and even down to 0F with wind I generally wear a long sleeve wool shirt, light jacket as a windbreak, snow pants, and some insulated work boots made for snow. Plus gloves and a hat of course, which are the two things that tend to get sweaty!
Keep one of those brush/scraper things in your car.
Clean the snow off your car before driving.
CLEAN THE SNOW OFF YOUR CAR BEFORE DRIVING
All of it
If it is going to be a lot of snow, don’t wait until it is over before you start digging out.
Salt/pet friendly ice melt for your walkways
Have a snow blower? Don’t wait until the day before to see if it still runs. Make sure you have gas for it
Also your car needs real winter tires, preferably studded.
Have a snow blower? Don’t wait until the day before to see if it still runs. Make sure you have gas for it
That reminds me, I should set a reminder to charge the batteries for mine.
I’d add that, while not strictly required, one of those total car snow covers really does come in handy: https://www.amazon.ca/kayme-Waterproof-Protection-Automobiles-Universal/dp/B09FLKGLCW
Serious, clearing snow isn’t just for your visibility. It’s illegal here (and presumably other places) to leave any snow at all on your car because it will come off and is very likely to affect the visibility of another driver at high speeds.
Invest in electric heaters.
If you already had a place picked that’s in the north, make sure you settle in as early as a month or two before it’s winter season starts.
Do not ever neglect snow tires. If you’re tight on money, getting even 2 sets of tires for wintry conditions is better than none. But 4 is still recommended and no, All-Seasons are terrible for winters regardless of brand. They just aren’t designed for winter conditions, they’re designed mostly for Spring/Summer/Fall.
Buy winter emergency sets for your vehicle. Buy one for the glove compartment, the ones where they actually have emergency power banks in them. Buy another for general use, especially ones equipped with a piece together shovel.
Use HEET only in 30 below temperatures.
Just going to throw out that electric heaters are the most expensive/least efficient way to heat electrically.
If you’re in the US, you can get a partial credit for improving windows, doors, and insulation (always the best first step).
You or your landlord can also get up to a $3000 credit toward a central heat pump system, which gives 3-4x the delivered heat for a given amount of electricity.
Heat pumps are also electric. The term that you guys want is “electric resistance heaters”.
Get a scraper/brush and keep it in your car.
Use it before you start driving. Don’t just clear a “porthole” to see out of. Clear the snow off the roof too. If you don’t it’ll fly off and hit the guy behind you or it’ll slide down over your windshield.
If you don’t have your scraper, a credit card will work in a pinch for the windshield.
Don’t pour hot water over your windshield to melt ice. At best it just doesn’t work, at worst you’ll crack the windshield
If you’re new to driving on icy/snowy roads, get a sense for how/when your car will break traction. Find an empty parking lot, accelerate a bit and then brake increasingly harder until you start to slide. This will give you a feel for the conditions under which you’ll lose traction to brake. This is also a good way to learn how to recover from a slide.
I’ve got a spray bottle filled with windshield wiper fluid I sometimes use to “pre-treat” an icy windshield before I get to scraping it, it’s often able to loosen the ice’s grip on the glass so the scraper can just lift it off. Simpler and more controllable than relying on the built-in windshield sprayers.
A one-handed garden pick is a nice tool to have handy if you find your car’s wheels stuck in some hard-packed snow or ice. Don’t spin your wheels fruitlessly, the friction is just making the ice slicker and harder. Use the garden pick to dig the wheels out instead, creating a rough surface to get some initial traction on. There are also traction plates or mats that you can stick in there to help get moving, though you need to be able to move the car far enough to get them caught under the wheels for them to work.
Make sure your car battery is in good condition. Cold weather will reduce its power output, so if your car’s going to fail to start it’ll be in the dead of winter when that happens. For peace of mind I bought one of those battery booster packs that you can use to jump-start a car with and I really like it, it’s got a built-in air pump, USB charger, and light source as well and I’ve used it for all of those things now and then. Wasn’t very expensive.
Stash a warm hat and a pair of warm mittens in the car somewhere. If you end up stranded on a roadside you won’t have known ahead of time that you were going to be stranded so you might not have brought adequate clothing with you. A flashlight, too. In northern latitudes there’s a lot of darkness during winter time.
If your state salts the roads in the winter, it’s strongly recommended to undercoat your vehicle with a coating to preserve it from rusting and shortening its useful life. Fluid Film is one of the better coatings, and is based on sheep lanolin, so it’s not toxic to the environment.
4wheel drive is nice, but tires are EVERYTHING. You absolutely cannot rely on all season tires, you MUST get proper Winter tires if your region snows heavily, or you will have a bad time.
There are now fabric snow ‘socks’ for cars that act like snow chains to get you out if a bind, which would be worth having in the trunk.
In the winter, ALWAYS bring winter rated clothing in the car along with water, a small amount of food, heavy duty blanket, and a small liquid paraffin candle for heat in the event you get stuck in a storm, or go off the road from ice.
I’ve lived with the snow all my life, but I can probably still offer some tips that people get caught on.
Snow removal is a bastard. Snow’s often heavier than it looks, especially when it’s wet. If you’re doing it yourself, make sure to stretch and not to attempt it if you have a heart condition. The low temperature makes the exertion more difficult on your heart, lungs, and muscles. It’s a fantastic way to stay in shape, but I often pull something in my back with the first major snowfall.
Winter driving bears some special consideration. Your car might need more time to warm up before it’s good to drive, and freezes will kill low batteries. Traction is poor, and even with a light layer of snow it can be very difficult to drive uphill. You often need a running start, and around here sometimes you just can’t make it to the top. Be prepared by knowing alternate routes, and by keeping an eye out for other drivers that might start rolling back towards you.
People often get stuck in the snow, so it’s important to be prepared. There’s two types of roadside emergency kits that you should be prepared to use. One is for attempting to get your car out of the snow, and the other is for survival if you can’t get unstuck. People more qualified than I could tell you what should be in them, but warm clothing and blankets are a must. If you have enough fuel, you might think that you could run the car all night to keep warm. But be warned that might not always be an option, and if the snow is piling up it can cause your exhaust to back up and asphyxiate you.
Walking in snow requires a higher level of exertion. It’s harder on your muscles, and stabilizing on packed snow might cause you to use some unfamiliar muscle groups. Again, it’s a great way to stay in shape, but if you’re not prepared for it you can quickly have a bad time. If the snow is particularly deep, you might be interested in snowshoeing or skiing. These are easier than clomping through the snow, but again, they’ll be unfamiliar muscle groups and require some practice.
I would do some research to see what level of snow removal your destination city does. Some places are super accessible, some plow only roads and leave sidewalks buried, and some places you’re snowbound for months at a time. I personally find it quite cozy to be snowed in, but it can become a serious problem if you’re not prepared for it.
This one’s probably subjective, but I find it important to keep separate Winter and Autumn outerwear. We’re at the time of year now where we’re starting to see some freezing temperatures, but it’s nowhere near what it’ll be in a couple months’ time. If you’re coming from a hot climate, you might be tempted to put on your warmest clothes as soon as it’s colder than you’ve been in your life. But then when it gets even colder than that, you’ll be happy to have something warmer to add to it.
Find something fun to do in the snow. If you’ve never seen snow in person before, I understand it’s often a magical feeling. But once you live with it for a long time, the magic can fade, and the inconveniences can mount. Having something to look forward to with the snow sometimes makes all the difference between Winter Wonderland and Frozen Hellscape. Whether that’s tobogganing, skating, or snowball fights, you’ve got to do something to keep up the morale in the winter months.
Drive your car like it doesn’t have brakes. Treat it like a boat.
When you get parked, knock the snow and ice out of the wheel wells before you start driving again.
This is mostly if doing outdoor outings.
Dress in layers. If you find it cold, you can always add multiple pairs of gloves, socks, and scarves and take them off as you get hot. There are balaclava type things and long John’s available as well.
They sell little hot pockets you can activate and they stay warm for 2-3 hours or so, you can keep them in your gloves and boots. There are self heating gloves as well with batteries.
Keeping a thermos with a hot beverage helps as well.
Don’t get wet, this includes sweating a lot.
Depending where you are moving to, snow may not be the only sort of inclement winter weather you may have to deal with. For instance, ice may build up on trees, power lines, and/or roads.
If on roads, don’t drive unless you absolutely have to, and if you do, be way more careful than you think you need to be. Look up safety tips for driving in icy conditions before you have to put them into practice.
If you have any trees that might fall on anything of value, kindof watch their condition. If any are splitting down the middle, hire someone to treat them before the winter season to avoid major problems like this.
Or it’s possible you’ll live somewhere ice buildup is unlikely to be an issue. Maybe look into the history of the area or talk to someone who has been there a long time to find out what conditions might be an issue.
Also, the ability to work remotely is kinda nice, I guess. It’s a double-edged sword, though. If you can work remotely, you never get days off due to weather. But if you can’t, you may be pressured to drive into the office when it’s very dangerous.
I moved to a snow city for the first time well into adulthood.
The big thing I have for you is that walking on snow is awesome for like two hours and then it’s constantly threatening to kill you. Slippery sludge or ice is the worst feeling in the universe and all the locals will just strut right over it like it’s nothing while you’re fighting for your life.
Just buy good shoes and plant your feet vertically, no sliding motions.
Planting one’s feet vertically is a skill that takes a while to develop.
Crampons help.
There’s more to know if you plan to drive a car.
Four-wheel drive helps to accelerate in icy conditions, it does not help braking.
Make slow, careful changes when it’s snowy or icy. Slow down more than you normally would to take a turn. Give yourself triple the distance to slow to a stop. Don’t turn hard.
Use windshield wiper fluid appropriate for freezing temperatures.
Put any rage or impatience aside and get to where you’re going safely.
If you live in a place that clears the streets and you don’t have to go anywhere, consider staying put. Wait a couple hours until the streets are cleared.
If you’ll be driving somewhere more remote, have clothes and boots appropriate for the weather in case your car breaks down or gets stuck and you have to walk. I also keep a jug of water, flashlight, and blanket/sleeping bag in my trunk during winter for this reason.
You can’t melt through snow or ice by spinning your tires.
This is very important, I’ve seen people try this and it just makes things worse. In another comment I suggested my favourite solution to getting stuck like this; have a one-handed garden pick or similar tool in the car so you can dig the tires out of the ice.
Everyone else has covered the important stuff, so I’ll just recommend that, especially if you have kids, you identify the local sledding hill and get a sled, snow pants, warm coat, snow boots, gloves and hat. If you’ve gotta live in it, make sure you enjoy it when it comes!
Don’t skimp on the winter clothes for your kids. If they’re properly dressed they’ll be outside all day. Good for you and good for them.
Reima is a good brand but REI house brand stuff is good too and cheaper. Wool layers, waterproof outers. Mittens are warmer than gloves.
Depends how much it snows and how cold it gets. Much of this may sound over-cautious if your winters are mild.
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Most cities/towns have by-laws regulating property owners clear and rock-salt their walkways within a set amount of time after snow has ceased falling,
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If you use a shovel, get an ergonomic one. It is very easy to hurt your back clearing snow. No matter how long you wait, the plow always comes AFTER you’ve cleared your driveway,
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If you have kids, get into the routine of checking local news for ‘snow days’, or in other words the schools have announced they are closed due to poor road conditions,
If you drive:
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Wiper fluid needs to be swapped out for winter fluid or it may freeze in the reservoir,
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Get a windshield ice-scraper/brush,
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Your vehicle should have a good emergency kit including first aid, a candle/matches, and blanket in case you get stuck in the boonies during a winter storm,
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Expect black-ice and snow drifts while driving. Both love to cause you to lose control. Rain freezing on the trees, while absolutely gorgeous, is a sign to take the day off work to avoid driving,
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If it gets really cold and/or you’re in an area with high seasonal precipitation you’ll want to have a vehicle that is equipped with a block heater (if it is gas combustion engine ofc), and have an extra set of winter tires (sometimes a legislated requirement too) to change for the season.
- Keep an eye on your (and I guess your neighbours if you want to be helpful) house’ roof and make sure the snow doesn’t build up too much as this can cause damage/leaks/collapses if it gets too heavy
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All season tires aren’t for all seasons, get real snow tires. They work better in the cold in general even if its not snowing out. 4 wheel drive doesn’t matter once you’re moving.
