this post was submitted on 02 Nov 2024
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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?

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[–] BorgDrone@lemmy.one 7 points 3 weeks ago

Cycling through fresh snow is fine, it’s the snow that has been driven over and compacted that’s really slippery.

When you ride over the slippery icy stuff, don’t brake hard, don’t make any sudden turns. Better to just stop pedaling and let your bike roll. Watch out for hard frozen ridges of snow.

Usually the cycle paths are salted early, it’s the part from the busy cycle paths to your front door and the last bit to your destination where you have to watch out.

Snow dampens sound so be careful around cars, you might not hear them coming. If you wear a coat with a hood it might be more difficult and annoying turn your head, resist urge to not look when crossing roads.

[–] erev@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago

Sprinkle cat litter after you shovel and salt, it'll provide traction and prevent ice from reforming. You can get one good and warm set of winter clothes, or you can do a fuckton of layers. The former is simpler but can leave you with less flexibility and will probably be more expensive than wearing 3-5 layers of clothes you probably already own. If you don't have them, long johns/thermal pants are a godsend. Gloves and a hat that covers the ears are also godsends, but if you're willing to tough it out (and maybe lose a few extremities) you can do without them as eventually you'll stop feeling the sting. Tuck your shirt and/or jacket into your pants, this will trap heat. Tuck your gloves into your coat or vice versa. Get good boots, i cannot stress this enough. It is not fun or a good idea dealing with snow in sneakers.

[–] TootSweet@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

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.

[–] weeeeum@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Get cleats for your shoes. Black ice (nearly invisible ice) is terrifying. It can form basically everywhere and sometimes salt doesn't always remove all of it.

When using salt, its the salt water that melts the ice. So if theres a slope on your driveway, then place most of the salt at the top, so the sale water flows down and melts the rest. Same with stairs.

Not sure where you are moving to, but here in the states the mailman tried to sue my parents because he slipped on their stairs and broke something. So make sure to clear the area to your mail box thoroughly.

We all know its stupid to stick our tongue on a steel pole but it can happen to any part of you if its cold enough. Be careful touching metal without gloves on.

[–] Nastybutler@lemmy.world 3 points 3 weeks ago

The sticking only happens due to moisture on your skin. If your skin is dry enough it won't stick. That's why the tongue is the go-to dare for playground kids. Lots of moisture. If your skin is clammy from sweat or snow melt and the metal is cold enough then the moisture freezes to the metal and grips your skin

[–] foofy@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

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.

[–] FaceDeer@fedia.io 3 points 3 weeks ago

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.

[–] nzeayn@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

It can in fact thunderstorm and snow at the same time. can even do it while alternating between rain and snow causing layers of ice hidden in snow. if you're moving to a place that does this, just stay in doors and enjoy the show. if it's one of the regions that can also spawn tornados during these storms. you watch the storm on tv from a basement.

oh i dont see it in the comments yet. all of which are great. proper snow boots. even it only snows a little where you are. just because i can walk across an ice rink on leather soles doesnt mean i'm ever going to. if the experiance of walking on ice and snow is new, use footwear meant to help you from slipping. plus they hold up better to road salts and deicing chemiclas if they're used there.

[–] spankmonkey@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

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!

[–] 0ops@lemm.ee 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

For driving: If there's snow on the ground and you're in a safe place to do this, get up to 5 mph or so and slam on the brakes. That'll give you a good feel for your much traction you have. Of course, conditions vary, so don't sue me if you had grip on your home street but not the freeway. Other than that, keep acceleration to a minimum, and I mean that in any direction. Ease on the gas, ease on the brake, slow down BEFORE you need to turn, and turn easy. Be calm, a panicked reaction to a slide can make it worse. Abs and traction control can save your ass, but they're emergency systems. If they are activating frequently, SLOW THE FUCK DOWN.

Driving aside, nice winter clothes are great, but how you wear them is much more important in my experience. Keep body heat in and cold wind out. Assuming that your clothes actually fit, the best, free way to do this is to simply tuck your shirt into your pants, and if you have them, coat sleeves over your gloves and neck gaiter into your coat. You lose so much heat in those areas, by addressing them you can be out many degrees colder before you need another layer. However, if you're physically exerting yourself in the cold, don't let yourself sweat, because as soon as you stop that shit will freeze. Be mindful of when you start getting warm and be prepared to untuck clothes, open vents, or remove layers.

Finally, and you should be doing this anyway but people forget in winter, drink plenty of water.

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[–] vxx@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

Don't dive in head first, it will break your neck.

[–] NemoWuMing@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago

Don't eat the yellow snow

[–] dumples@midwest.social 5 points 3 weeks ago

Layers are the key. Lots of small layers especially something sweat wicking on the bottom layers. It's good to have lots of layers to add and subtract

[–] Voyajer@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago

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.

[–] Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

In warmer weather, mind the geese. They're really fucking aggressive!

Regularly go through a car wash WITH UNDERCARRIAGE CLEANING or your car will be ruined by the road salt and rust.

Find a snow brush long enough to reach every part of your vehicle, buy two; keep one inside your home and one in the vehicle at all times until the weather is consistently above 50f.

You can be pulled over in places for not completely clearing snow off your vehicle; it will fly off in chunks that can smash windshields of others.

Dress warmly, but not so warm as to sweat. Sweat is moisture, moisture freezes, you'll be colder than if you had dressed lighter. Multiple thinner layers, with a moisture wicking innermost layer to keep it off your skin.

Everywhere will absolutely blast the heater in every office and store, so if you're going to be outside very little, probably best to leave the heavy coat in the car.

[–] NABDad@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

If you don't have a car that can drive in snow, don't drive in snow.

Last blizzard I was in, I had to pull over to try to help two people get up a small hill.

The first woman was afraid to steer while me and and a tow truck driver pushed her up. She wanted one of us to steer her car, but that just couldn't happen. She ended up paying the tow truck driver more than $300 to tow her.

While that was going on, a Honda Civic ended up sliding backwards down the hill. I pushed that one about 100ft along the road until it leveled out enough to move on its own.

We have a Civic, but it sits in the driveway for blizzards.

If you get serious snow where you're moving, and you have to drive, get something with all wheel drive. Just remember that all wheel drive doesn't mean you can stop. You still need to drive like a Granny in Sunday church traffic.

[–] Pulptastic@midwest.social 4 points 3 weeks ago

I had a Yaris and a Prius and they did great in snow. They just need snow tires. A sedan with snow tires will do better than a suv with all season tires any day of the week.

[–] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

Civics are amazing in the level of snow Connecticut gets if you have the right tires

[–] Damage@feddit.it 3 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah, pretty sure a Civic with winter tyres is pretty capable as long as it doesn't bottom out on the snow or try to drive on solid ice

[–] Etterra@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Keep in your trunk the following: a portable snow shovel, an ice scraper, a window snow brush, a spare set of gloves, one of those emergency mylar blankets, a little spray-bottle of deicer, an extra jug of wiper fluid.

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[–] Nytixus@kbin.melroy.org 4 points 3 weeks ago

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.

[–] GrymEdm@lemmy.world 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)
  • If you're the owner of the home, know what bylaws there are regarding snow removal near your home. Where I live you can get a fine + snow removal costs if you aren't reasonably prompt getting snow off the sidewalk.

  • Snowy surfaces (sidewalks, driveways, roads) are often icy surfaces = slip and fall hazard. This is especially serious for older folks but it can hurt/injure at any age. This gets worse if it snows then melts then refreezes. Don't run if you don't have to. Sand/grit on these surfaces can help, and in my area you can get sand for free at certain town facilities.

  • Frostbite on exposed skin is a genuine hazard. Look up the weather forecast when it's cold and take time-to-frostbite warnings seriously.
[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Special care has to be taken in whatever house you live in to protect your plumbing from freezing. Generally most places in snow zones will be built with freeze protection in mind so you won't need to do too much. But exposed faucets (even frost free types) can freeze and burst back inside your walls, as can any other exposed pipe, or even those not exposed if your house loses it's source of heat. A burst pipe floods everything and will ruin your house.

  • Cover any exposed faucets with a foam cover (any hardware store will have them)
  • Never let the inside of your house drop below 55F/12C; that internal heat seeps into the walls and floor and is what keeps your plumbing working.
  • Check if the house has a crawlspace that requires additional heating to prevent freezing, and make sure any pipes in said crawlspace are fully insulated with foam tape and ideally have "pipe tape" or cable heaters under the insulation and plugged in.
  • If you're in an area that relies on ground water wells rather than a city supply, you may also have a pump house outbuilding that requires heating.
  • A chicken brooder lamp like this with a 100w incandescent lightbulb or 250w infrared heat lamp (depending on level of insulation and outside temperatures) in it is the best way to safely heat these small spaces with minimal fire risk.

Additional prep should be taken to make sure you can maintain house heat even if the power goes out for an extended period of time due to snowfall taking out trees onto power lines. Should have some form of non electric heat that can be used indoors safely, e.g a wood stove, or have a generator with at least 24hr of reserve fuel that can run your furnace for a few hours at a time (assuming propane or oil furnace, and not a heat pump or electric resistive furnace).

[–] Pulptastic@midwest.social 3 points 3 weeks ago

Snowshoeing is super fun. Snowboarding is rad. Fatbiking is awesome. Get the right clothing and gear to enjoy the season.

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