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

  • stoy@lemmy.zipEnglish
    4·
    20 hours ago

    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.

          • Jarix@lemmy.world
            2·
            7 hours ago

            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