Brit Finds Out The Things Americans Do To Survive Winter

[@Darkhuntersrule]

Actually in some states with mountains, like the Rockies, if they are getting hit BAD, they won't let you thru mountain passes UNLESS you have chains on!

[@RachealBella-ze4td]

I would add: everyone I know carries bags of cheap kitty litter in their trunk "just in case". If you get stuck in the snow and your wheels keep spinning you can pour kitty litter around your tire and it gives it enough grip to get unstuck. It has to be the cheap kind though because the newer "clumping" kind doesn't work.

[@shirleyz7400]

I use to always carry a bag of sand in my trunk too.

[@hippiemama52]

And a folding camp shovel comes in handy.

[@shirleyz7400]

@@hippiemama52 I forgot I do have a little one of those in my trunk. I carry extra blankets & emergency kit just in case I get stuck. Thank god I’ve never got stuck in a snowstorm.

[@bluflaam777LSA]

For real. If you live in "those places" you always carry a 'winter emergency kit'. Blanket(s), snacks, some form of traction like sand/kitty litter etc., Sand/cement blocks/firewood etc for added weight, flashlights, matches and all that. I never let my tank go below 1/2. There're so many "hacks" that aren't hacks but life savers. Too many to mention. (I used to live [grew up] near the great white north) GO Blu Devils!!

[@happycamper47]

The bag of kitty litter also adds weight for traction

[@HarlemIndigo]

You dont leave the faucet on to "run". You leave it enough to drip, not flow, but drip.

[@pjschmid2251]

But the first thing you need to do is open the cabinet to allow the warmer air from inside the room to get under the sink. And then next summer add some damn insulation to that outside wall 😂. Honestly, in the Midwest in a properly insulated house, this should not be a problem. If it is you really do need to work on getting that exterior wall properly insulated because not only are you risking your plumbing but you’re wasting heat.

[@arcanewyrm6295]

​@pjschmid2251 pipes don't freeze in the cabinet under your sink. The inside of that cabinet is going to be the same temperature as the room it's in. They freeze in crawlspaces and unheated areas. Anywhere that's the temperature of the cold outside. In my house, what's currently the kitchen is an addition built outside the original foundation of the house. It used to be a porch or deck before it was enclosed and turned into a kitchen. So the space under the floor is exposed to outside air temperature, and my pipes pass through that space for about 9 feet before going up through the floor and into the heated kitchen. One of those pipes burst last winter because a heated pipe wrap had gotten unplugged and allowed the pipe to get too cold. But no, if your home is heated, your pipes won't burst in the cabinet.

[@pjschmid2251]

@ if you have insufficient insulation on an external wall that is backed up by a sink with a cabinet underneath it, that cabinet can keep the warmer air from inside the room from reaching those pipes. Most modern homes today try and keep plumbing away from external walls, which removes this problem. But older construction does sometimes install sinks in bathrooms against an external wall, and that cabinet under the sink can make the air under the sink colder than the air in the room. It may be only by a few degrees, but it can be enough to make a difference if you’re having problems with freezing pipes on that sink.

[@Kosmokraton]

In Montana everyone I knew just drained the external pipes, and the external pipes, and all the internal pipes were insulated.

[@squirrel2000]

Some of these are old and no longer used. Pulling your wipers out really doesn't help and can result in your wipers getting stuck in the out position because that joint is not heated. Even if it is out, you still have to scrape your windshield. If the ice is too thick to pull the blade off the windshield, you just run the defroster for a while. Most side mirrors are now heated, so no need to put a bag over the mirror. Most houses (at least in the north) are insulated enough that you don't need to leave the water dripping. This really only applies if you live in an area where the house isn't insulated enough to keep the pipes from freezing in an unusual freezing spell. And then you only let it drip quickly, not a full stream. Also, most houses in freezing areas have frost free outdoor hose bibs (outdoor tap for watering the garden). These special taps automatically drain the water within about a foot inside the house. The pipes going to the outside taps can freeze in the winter. It used to be that you had to turn off water to the outside taps and drain the water before winter. Current all weather tires do okay in snow. Nothing does well on ice. It used to be that you had to change to winter tires. In severe weather areas you could use studded tires. These had metal spikes embedded into the rubber that would bite into the snow to improve traction. They were noisy and would also tear up the roadway. In certain areas and bad conditions, tire chains can be required. You have to drive very slowly with chains. They now have tire sleeves which are easier to put on. Of course, you only put chains on when you have to have them. In some states you can be ticketed for not using them properly. The penguin walk actually does work. 😊

[@deenakuhn7611]

Here’s another one you probably don’t do in the UK: winter survival kits in your car. And I’m not talking just about an extra scarf. Mine does have scarfs, mittens, and hats, but it also has wool blankets, socks, tights, hand and foot warmers, trail mix, tea lights and matches, a solar powered phone charger, jumper cables, a bag of clay kitty litter, a shovel, flares, a first aid kit, and bottles of water. And yes, I have used my survival kit on more than one occasion.

[@SusanIsListening]

The best way to avoid slipping and falling on your backside when it's icy out is to walk in the snow next to the driveway or sidewalk. It's safer and you'll have better footholds as you move. Plus, it doesn't tend to glaze over like ice does.

[@SheldonRobert-x8o]

Don't pick your feet up..

[@Robinwilson-m8b]

The best way to avoid slipping is to stay inside! lol

[@CarriUSA]

We use ice cleats on our boots..what they use for ice fishing.

[@JudyJohnson-do6so]

Go slow and turn your toes in to prevent slipping

[@heatherqualy9143]

Had to do this the other night walking down a sloped driveway that had iced. Nice crunchy grass on the side to walk down instead.

[@janeknisely4383]

In Michigan we turn off our outside water. Our inside water is insulated. And we bring our hoses and stuff inside until spring.

[@susan4337]

We, in Connecticut, do the same thing.

[@normaroberts1461]

We as well in Ohio

[@sandyosher4608]

We sure do!

[@georgia777]

I grew up in Michigan but now live in Atlanta. We still have to turn off our outdoor water.

[@leanndilorenzo4687]

Two words…..thunder snow….talk about feeling like you are having a weird dream! Being in the middle of a thunder snow storm is trippy! Also blizzards are sure fun along with ice storms.

[@rochelletornabene9860]

Are you from Colorado? This is the only place I can say that and they get it lol 😅

[@pagevaughn9194]

Northeast Ohio, 1978!! It was called the Blizzard of the century! There are some videos on yt about it! I had just turned 15 the day before the storm hit, some had heard Thunder snow, but not everywhere. One thing I remember most, waking up that morning and seeing snow drifts two stories high!! Couldn't see out of our windows!!

[@helenbuller2829]

In the hillsides that Kent-Kangley Rd goes through on the way to 104th at the hill top in Kent, WA. It’s crazy to experience in a city ‘cause you’re literally in the clouds, it’s snowing heavily *and* thunder and lightening. It only happened twice in the seven or so years I lived there, but wild. It would dump so much they’d have to close the road down into the valley and you’d have to go south on 104th to Sea-Tac to get across. Same with ice storms.

[@Nonsensically]

@@pagevaughn9194New Jersey got hit by that blizzard followed by an ice storm. It was beautiful as the trees looked like glass.

[@pagevaughn9194]

@@Nonsensically I remember a snow and ice storm we had in the late 1990s or early 2000s we had a huge ice storm! We had branches and trees down all over no power either. Across the street from us, tree came down on a powerline, pulled the connection off the house and caught on fire! Thankfully it was put out very fast. Everyone was home!! Storms no matter what kind can be scary as hell!!

[@tanyajackson]

Hes legit on his views. Winter is a rough one in the Midwest. AND try walking around when things are froze. U will do the penguin. 😂😂

[@paigeballard253]

When he said he’s not doing it, I laughed and said “Landing hurts, but okay”🤣

[@thomasmacdiarmid8251]

Not quite like Laurence does it, though. It's mostly that it is dangerous to stride, as you want to keep your full foot on the ice and to have minimal lateral motion.

[@CarriUSA]

We use ice cleats on our shoes or boots...used for ice fishing..works great!

[@roseseifert8939]

​@@CarriUSAstill can't do a full stride though

[@aaronburdon221]

​@paigeballard253 agreed. It's especially bad when you're holding something or going down stairs.

[@marywinn8953]

All true. Chains on our tires,car wipers standing up and starting it 20 minutes before you drive. Leaving the cabinets open in the kitchen and bathroom at night so the heat keeps the pipes warm.

[@rickwatson1644]

All true

[@wikida391]

In Colorado (certain areas) we have chain laws that say once the show hits a certain depth, if caught without tire chains you get an automatic ticket and fine.

[@chrissihr1031]

We keep sandbags in the bed of our pickup trucks all winter so the rear axel doesn’t fishtail in the snow. It’s just a necessity with certain trucks.

[@michaelboyle779]

I have found remote start and heated mirrors beats the potato rub down every time.

[@j348011]

That's only if you have a newer car with it.

[@sgcrayna1357]

@@j348011you can get a remote start put in literally anything with a battery for about 300 bucks btw. Ik that’s still expensive but better then a new car

[@susan4337]

@@j348011 I think you can add the remote start to any car.

[@MeidasMJ]

Agreed

[@bob_._.]

If the zip on the plastic bag freezes and you can't undo it (which isn't a thing), you tear the bag off. The running faucet he showed is way more flow than you need; you only need a drip. And no worries about the plug, our sinks (bathroom anyway) and bathtubs have overflow drains up high. When I was a kid we carried a propane torch in the car to thaw out the latches so the doors would hold shut.

[@nancyrukavena6992]

If the dripping sound of a faucet bothers you, just put a folded washcloth where the drips hit it, and not the sink.

[@mrcryptozoic817]

@@nancyrukavena6992 Then it goes "plop". A scrubby pad is quieter.

[@maidenminnesota1]

I think Lawrence was referring to those rubber drain stops that we stopped using in the US over 60 years ago.

[@Cookie-K]

Lewis... When it comes to walking on snow and ice....you'd be surprised at how you may end up walking to not fall down! Sometimes you just have to look silly 💁🏻‍♀😊

[@AC-ni4gt]

I had to learn how to walk with nicely treaded boots on ice.

[@MichaelScheele]

After slipping and falling on ice a few winters ago, a twisted/sprained ankle convinced me to walk very gingerly when the ground is icy. I don't care if I look silly; avoiding injury is more important.

[@rtyria]

I don't think of it as waddling. I think of it as keeping one foot firmly planted before picking up the other.

[@robertschwartz4810]

When walking, you have to keep your feet flat and not bend them.

[@mollyvermisse4386]

Yup. I slipped the first year I moved to MN. Placing your foot down heel to toe (normal walk) has a higher tendency of falling on icy snow versus planting your foot flat on the ground (penguin walk).

[@LCarolineSparks]

Born and raised in Michigan. I absolutely promise you that the first time you slip and fracture your coccyx, being worried about your appearance walking like a penguin will be the furthest thing from your mind, lol. That was literally the worst pain of my life. 🐧

[@DianeBianchi_MnWx]

I did that at the dentist office parking lot, and then sat in his chair for an hour and a half enduring a root canal. Talk about insult to injury.

[@rowynnecrowley1689]

Chains on tires serve the same purpose as cleats on shoes. It provides better traction so you don't A) Get stuck in the snow, or B) Slide around into oncoming traffic. And some places actually require them in winter. Know the laws of the land you're in.

[@maidenminnesota1]

We live in a city that keeps the streets well plowed, but we do put chains on our snowblower tires so it can get up the incline of the driveway. We also have them for the lawn tractor which has a plow in case the snowblower isn't working.

[@teerat8451]

The first time you land on your back you'll start walking differently😂 There are metal booties that slip over your shoes to help you walk on the ice, but they can be damaged if you walk on bare concrete.

[@MichaelScheele]

Crampons can be just the ticket in icy conditions. I don't know if the rubber crampons damage as easily on concrete compared to metal crampons.

[@carlred6476]

@@MichaelScheele The rubber ones are actually just a stretched out Slinky, but real tiny, that has a rubber strap threaded through it. The steel is easily bent when you walk on concret and, of course the steel WILL cut the rubber before the season is over. They are cheap, so a new pair every autumn.

[@deanpreston3603]

Hi Lewis, Not Trolling. You may not want to walk like a penguin but when you slip and fall everyone who sees you will laugh their ass off and go home and tell the family about it. I am in Kentucky or near the middle of the US. I am 5 hours from Lawrence and 10 hours from the beach. Here we have 4 very distinct seasons and it is great, but the winter can be bad. Many days below zero. This kind of cold will make your boys shrink up to your stomach. I do not worry about snow or real cold as much as I worry about ice storms. This is when it rains and the drops fall and freeze on contact. They can freeze as much as 2 inches thick. The weight makes trees fall and power lines fall. If you lose power in an ice storm you are screwed. We are always prepared with food, blankets, and flashlights. There is an old saying "it is so cold, it could freeze the balls off a brass monkey". The US is full of brass monkeys without balls. Always remember to bring them in at night.

[@bmadn4111]

@deanpreston3603 😅🤣😂 haven't heard that saying in a while! Thanks, always makes me laugh, even though it's totally true. The other one that sticks with me, is "slicker than snot on a door knob" lol. (Ewww)

[@meeshmccoy]

@@deanpreston3603 🤣❤️🙏❄️🌨️

[@nancyrukavena6992]

In Wisconsin, it's the balls off a billiard table.😅

[@bmadn4111]

@@nancyrukavena6992 nice!😆

[@tripletfeb4034]

In Ohio, it's colder than a witches tit in a brass bra😂

[@kathyolsick6398]

😂 I never heard of rubbing potato on cars. I have lived in Michigan for 64 years

[@DebraMason-d2e]

I lived in Illinois for my young life never heard of the potato

[@LRoach79]

I'm in GR we get lots of snow but I agree just as much work to just scrape the windows and save a potato. I live in a mobile home we definitely leave a faucet dripping when its really cold. I've lived in a single wide mobile home in the 90s and forgot to leave water dripping. We didn't have water for a week. My husband had to get under the trailer with a blowtorch and warm the pipes up. We stayed at his parents house with our newborn son I wanted to pull my hair out 😂 hard lesson to learn 😆

[@juliearmfield2634]

Ive lived in Indiana for 55yrs and ive never heard of that potato hack. 😂

[@maidenminnesota1]

I've lived in Minnesota for 60 years, and never heard of or seen anyone rub a potato on their car.

[@Dodo-f6j1y]

OTR trucker here. There are some states, particularly in the west that require tire chains during the winter months. In Colorado, from September 1 thru May 31 all commercial vehicles that go into the mountains must carry chains. California, Oregon and Washington, you must have enough chains to chain 4 axles (2 on the truck and 2 on the trailer). There are also times when it snows enough that even passenger vehicles are required to either have chains or snow tires in Colorado. Another hack is to put rubbing alcohol in your windshield washer reservoir, if you don't have winterized washer fluid, to keep the sprayer hoses from freezing. The alcohol will also speed up the defrosting of the windshield. Also, don't let your fuel tank get below 1/4. The less fuel you have makes it easier to freeze/gel up.

[@lianabaddley8217]

Yep. Here in Utah, there are roads, areas that between snowy months, all vehicles must have either 4X4 or chains. If your doors/locks freeze rubbing alcohol or even hand sanitizer (with alcohol) will unfreeze/de-ice !

[@squirrel2000]

@Dodo-f6j1y I remember, many years ago, I had to go to Vail, or maybe it was Aspen, for work (I know, hard assignment 😀). I picked up my Subaru all wheel drive at the airport but forgot to check if there were chains. Of course, before I got to the pass, it started to snow and the chain requirement went into effect. Having grown up in the very snowy mountains in the northern tier of NY, I knew enough not to ignore it. I turned around and looked for a place to buy chains. I had to go almost back to Denver (of course this was before cell phones). I ended up having to do the pass after dark and after at least a foot more of snow fell. I was not happy with the rental car place. I had told them I was going into the mountains and asked them for chains to be put in the car. I never made that mistake again. This had to be at least 40 years ago.

[@Dodo-f6j1y]

@@squirrel2000 Lesson learned lol and yeah they still haven't got any place closer for those who forgot much needed things, like tire chains, any closer than Lakewood, well their might be a place in Wheat Ridge now, but now from what I know.

[@thomasmacdiarmid8251]

The chains are very hard on bare pavement, but they work wonders on icy roads - not only do they give your car traction, they help to chop up and roughen the ice on the road.

[@SarahDenna]

Yeah, you are required to have chains when driving over the sierras in winter

[@denisewaterworth9303]

We have a cover for our windshield, keeping it from frosting over. There are extra side pockets to cover the side mirrors. Chains are required in mountain areas. Snow tires with more traction are available. Ive seen the wiper sticking up thing but we don’t do it. (Maybe 1% do it). Penguin walk or whatever needed is done, but boots with good soles, walking on snow instead of ice, and other techniques are more common. Never tried the potato. Winterized wiper fluid, specific oil weights, snd other wintertime adjustments are common.

[@iamnother5490]

When you walk on the snow it's best to avoid walking on tire tracks or foot tracks where the snow has been pressed down and made slippery. New snow has traction and isn't that difficult to walk on unless it's deep. Waterproof winter boots with good treads make a difference.

[@SarahJeanCole]

Northern Michigan here and currently -5 F (-21 C) and have roughly over 5 FEET of snow. It's freezing rain/snowing right now and it's supposed to drop to -12 f. Have a feeling I'm going to be iced and snowed in again tomorrow. Love from Northern Michigan ❤

[@MCubedMi]

Where? UP? Still, where?

[@tracyfrazier7440]

I hope your wind has subsided. We just lost our Mid-Atlantic, warm Gulf air to cold winds. I hope it doesn’t last too long.

[@SarahJeanCole]

@MCubedMi currently visiting up just past SSM. I live normally in Northern Michigan but below the bridge. Still have just shy of 27 inches down where I live but supposedly are also getting absolutely dumped on with a lake effect storm mixed with freezing rain. So who knows how it's all gonna go. Shits getting crazy out again.

[@SarahJeanCole]

@@tracyfrazier7440 These gale force winds are no joke. Second time since Thanksgiving.

[@chrisp308]

​@@SarahJeanColeI'm from South Carolina and wanting to get away from all the city Yankees moving down here, any advice for the winter and the raining cocaine y'all get up yander?

[@jillollipop2978]

I grew up in PA where chains were illegal. But in California, when driving in heavy snow in the mountains, chains or equivalent are mandatory. There are checkpoints to make sure people have chains.

[@portialancaster3442]

I, too, grew up in PA and I remember when chains were legal. We only used them in +4 inches of snow.

[@debs-101]

Same in Colorado. In the mountains a lot of roads required chains, including Interstates at times.

[@janfitzgerald3615]

Washington requires vehicles over 10,000 to carry chains between November 1 and April 1, when crossing the mountain passes. Also depending on road conditions all vehicles except all wheel drive must chain up will have to chain up to cross. There are extra lanes to the far right of the driving lanes for chaining up and then remove them after you’ve crossed the pass.

[@AC-ni4gt]

Utah needs those puppies on their wheels when going through the canyons and more dangerous roadways when the snow is piling on.

[@jillollipop2978]

@portialancaster3442 Your handle has "lancaster" in it. Is that where you're from? I lived in Lancaster for 3 years, after living in New Cumberland, and before that, Camp Hill. My in-laws live in Mount Joy

[@AlthosWTF]

Geico is a car insurance company. Their commercial mascot for a while was a gecko.

[@flattop223]

10:15 there are also States like where I live where it gets extremely hot and then extremely cold, during the summer we get up to about 120° F that's about 49° C, this year early October we went from 100° during the day, to the middle of October we were at 70° during the day, and at night it was dropping to about 35°, here we are just a month later and I had a pipe burst last night, so I'm dealing with no water right now while I wait for a plumber... During the day we are still in the high 40s, but at night the temperature goes down a lot, that's what it is to live in the desert.

[@mikevalet5020]

My sister who lives in Watertown, NY had 54 inches of snow in one dumping and they're getting more. Also, besides chains, they have studded tires. That means that the tires actually have little studs that protrude from the tires to grip the roads.

[@DaveBjornRapp]

I'm from NY and have a buddy who lives in Watertown. They got 11 FEET of snow one day, and then got 3 more feet of it before that was even cleaned up. I see no reason to live in a place like that. Craziness.

[@bradcook5212]

I grew up just a couple of hours from where Laurence lives and it would get down to 30 to 50 below zero. We’d forget to leave the water running and the pipes would freeze. We have to go a week without water. One winter, we lost power due to the amount of ice on the power lines, causing them to fall. We went without power for a week so had to use the heat from the gas oven to heat the house. Winters in the Midwest are a different beast. In the summer, it’s get over 100 degrees. Currently living in LA, where it’s in the 60s and 70s in the winter.

[@jimgreen5788]

@bradcook5212, yeah, out there the only things you have to worry about are wildfires and earthquakes. On the plus side, you have some exceptional national parks.

[@GreymanWalking]

@@jimgreen5788 and mudslides.

[@tld7846]

In southern Michigan, the Blizzard of '78 shut our schools down for over a week which is pretty rare given the hearty bunch we are. Snow drifts were so high, kids were climbing them and walking around on roof tops.

[@AC-ni4gt]

Depending on where you are during the winter. Most of us in the more northern areas have to deal with more than just below freezing temps and waist high snow accumulation. You'd be lucky if the power doesn't go out.

[@rtyria]

Everybody and their cousin in my neighborhood has a generator. Thinking about getting another one with one of those solar panel thingys so I can run it more than 7 hours straight and don't have to worry about carbon monoxide.

[@BenjaminRoethig]

The trippy part is the states that are both extremely hot and extremely cold.

[@suetaylor7329]

True

[@pdproductions5129]

Yes! A friend once told me that back when England had a consulate in St Louis, the employees there got hazard pay for the awful cold (the humidity exacerbated whatever the temps were). Besides the "Arctic pay, " they were also paid extra for the excruciating summer heat. I've never been able to verify that officially, but having lived in St Louis for decades, I'm inclined to believe it!

[@nenno6748]

You mean like Michigan like 5F-10F in winter to like 90F-100F with 80%-100% humidity in summer.....i call this hellhole home. But I still love it.

[@kendallneason3645]

I’ve lived all over but now in temperate SC. But Kentucky and Washington DC are harsh y’all! 😂

[@BenjaminRoethig]

@ or Iowa where it's also 90-100 during summer and up to -40 in winter.

[@catherinesearles1194]

It's more of a shuffle, with your feet out using smaller steps. You do it becausing slipping on ice leaves you airborne and landing on it hurts worse than falling on the sidewalk in the summer. Which is why most towns have an ordinance 5hat your sidewalk must be shoveled within 24 hours of snow fall and salted, usually with calcium chloride as salt destroys the pavement

[@Emtsujsti]

Thank you for saying this… this is clearly NOT a good example of walking like a penguin. 🐧 slow, steady shuffle. Feet close together.

[@Dixon_Gaper]

You should check out some videos of Buffalo, NY, and the lake effect snow storms we get. They can be intense, often dumping multiple feet of snow within hours.

[@debs-101]

Ugh! Lake effect snow has to be the worst! I went through several blizzards in Colorado w/ at least 3-4 ft of snow and I would choose that any day over lake effect snow 🥶

[@rtyria]

@@debs-101 Heart attack snow, courtesy of the Great Lakes.

[@debs-101]

@@rtyria yes!! Not to mention the tidal ice waves!

[@SarahBroad-kw7fj]

Here where I live in Minnesota it’s 1F(-17C) right now with a feel like -22f (-30C) and it suppose to get down to -6F for temperature and the feeling is going to be even colder!! Yup winter is coming in with a bang this year

[@shirleyz7400]

I hear you. Stay warm! You got it a little harder then us in Iowa. I’m a 1/4 of a mile from Minnesota.

[@debs-101]

I think the crazier thing about weather in the States isn’t that some states get super hot and some get extremely cold, but it’s crazier that a lot of states experience all weather extremes. In Missouri, we usually have days that reach around/over 100°F/38°c (and humid AF). And in winter we usually have days in single digits F (-17° to -13°c). And YES, humidity truly does make temperature feel more extreme. In the heat you feel like you’re wrapped up in a hot, wet towel; in the winter the cold pierces all the way through your body, making your bones so cold you can feel them aching. And then it takes forever to warm up. It can suck but I love to experience all 4 seasons-although it’s much more enjoyable in drier climates like Colorado. Speaking of which, if it’s in the 90°s in Denver, just take a drive up to Mount Evans, about 2-2.5 hours away, where it’s almost certainly below freezing and snow-capped. In August.

[@daniellejarvis157]

Idaho also gets those extremes: six weeks over 100 degrees in the summer, and over a month that never gets above freezing during the winter. Admittedly, rarely to single digits, but is there THAT much difference between 12 degrees and nine??

[@debs-101]

@ I’m surprised Idaho gets that hot in the summer! Is that in lower elevations in the state? Do you have higher humidity than Colo or Utah areas since you’re only one state away from the ocean or is that too far? That might be a really really dumb question lol. Btw, did you hear Mama Lew ask about Yogi Bear living in Yellowstone? We need more Mama Lew -she’s the best!

[@jennifermarengo]

I live in Indio, CA, and a couple days ago it was 85°F and our low today is 43°F. I know that doesn’t sound cold, but when you’re used to 100°+ days for months, that’s a big difference! 🥶 Regardless, I don’t miss Ohio, or Colorado, winters at all!

[@jlaurelc]

Lawrence (wait, is it Lawrence or Laurence???) didn't explain the pipe thing well. When water freezes it expands, so if your pipe is full of water and that expands into ice, it can burst the sides of the pipe. Opening the tap does two things - it helps prevent it from freezing because the water is moving (minor effect), but more importantly it means there's not enough water stopped or accumulated anywhere to burst the pipe.

[@mrcryptozoic817]

Right. As the water freezes, it expands and pushes against the unfrozen water. That's why (in copper pipe), there's always a dimple evidence (with a split) in the pipe above or below where it actually froze. That's where the pressure was.

[@fondasarff9701]

While you're doing the kitty litter in the trunk dry out a water bottle and fill with sand or litter and put it in the front with you. Then when you have to get out on the icy parking lot you can shake out some for traction under your boots.

[@brigitteevens851]

My most important winter trick is to grease the sides of the car doors with vegetable cooking oil when open and also the garage door tracks. It doesn’t freeze! I used to put it in my car locks if you have an older vehicle where you need to insert the key into the door, for the same reason. Besides kitty litter, I also used to keep large paper grocery bags for traction under the tires when you are stuck on ice.

[@meeshmccoy]

There are also studded tires. And putting sand bags or ice melt in the trunk to make it heavier can help. 😉

[@meeshmccoy]

Sorry. The boot?

[@bluflaam777LSA]

@@meeshmccoy 😅🤣

[@pjschmid2251]

The weight’s really only helpful if you have a rear wheel drive car. I don’t know that those are very common anymore. I remember doing this when I was a kid back in the 70s with rear wheel, drive cars, and then it did help because the extra weight was over the wheels that were propelling the car. But then in the late 70s early 80s front wheel drive cars started to become more common and the weight of the engine did the job.

[@meeshmccoy]

@@pjschmid2251 🤣I’m in my 40’s and my dad loaded my trunk on my civic with all sorts of stuff. He taught me so much! Living in Utah in the winter is my fav. Most won’t agree. ❤️

[@merlinathrawes746]

@@meeshmccoy What Brits call a car's trunk.

[@janetsanford6923]

What Laurence says is absolutely true, even if Lewis thinks it's not. But the "penguin walk", I call (and do) the "duck walk", one time at work during a winter safety meeting I mentioned it and another worker started laughing thinking they were funny. BUT I was speaking from experience, having fell on the icy sidewalk when I was about 13 and broke my wrist.😐

[@rowynnecrowley1689]

You might want to consider the penguin walk if you go some place super cold. I slipped on a patch of black ice once, and hit the ground so hard, it's a wonder I didn't break my hip. I was not doing the Penguin. I was doing the Old Lady shuffle. It did not help. So maybe there's something to the Penguin thing.

[@colddarkmatter1731]

I've lived in MN my whole life and none of these are done by us except flipping your wipers up before snow or freezing rain. Us veterans simply start our cars 30 minutes before we go anywhere. It's currently-5F outside and my car never fully warmed up on my 30-minute drive home, but the heat was warm. (2024 Malibu) Scraping ice and snow too thick to melt is just expected and is actually pretty helpful for acclimating. Nice way to keep a positive mindset all day. 🤷‍♂️

[@the_dog_says_moo]

I'm from Iowa. Letting your car run for 30 minutes is a waste of gas and not good for it. Thirty seconds to a minute is good enough and it'll warm up much faster by driving it

[@colddarkmatter1731]

@the_dog_says_moo not driving in a car that's -5 for 20 minutes till it finally blows warm. I've had many Iowans up here picking up work during the winter. All say they understand why we do it after one week up here.

[@heatherqualy9143]

Lifelong Minnesotan myself. I concur.

[@heatherqualy9143]

@@the_dog_says_moo50+ year Minnesotan. The gas it uses is negligible, and mechanic agreed that warming it up doesn’t cause any excessive wear and tear. Mechanics also say, warming it up does nothing to make the car run better. Don’t care. I’m not warming it up for the car. I’m warming it up for me! By the time the heater blows hot, I would already be at work. With frostbit fingers.

[@diana9954]

I have lived in 6 states, many that had a lot of cold and snow. The UP of Michigan snows in feet not inches, been in a ‘whiteout’ there. I am now in North Texas where the weather may be hot but not super humid like the southern parts. I know you love Texas BBQ, it is amazing. My favorite is mesquite smoked meats, nothing like a 21 oz porterhouse steak. In Texas since it is so big you will have every type of weather. Where I live, may see some snow flurries once or twice. Snow is beautiful, but I’m over that kind of weather. Hopefully you can get to Texas!

[@debs-101]

Haha he would never survive a Texas summer!

[@meeshmccoy]

For real we have to have chains or studs to go up the mountains to Snowboard or Ski. We have definitely had frozen broken pipes. I never have waddled though. Maybe it’s because I grew up with it! ❤😂

[@squirrel2000]

@meeshmccoy I waddle on ice. Snow has much better grip. The snow in the west is drier, so it tends not to get as icy as the northeast. Still, I remember a good amount of ice on the medium traveled roads in Colorado. They don't use as much salt as the northeast.

[@billy9144]

Chain tires and wipers up is a big thing here. While I'm in a state that doesn't allow chains, everyone puts their wipers up because the snow usually turns icy by the time you clean it in the morning and it makes the scraping a lot easier and less chance to damage the wiper. That's actually a good one. I've never seen the bag over the mirror or the potato thing, however. People do walk funny, but it's usually not that exaggerated. You just have to tread carefully and always pay attention to where you are going. Yeah, America is just so big, there is tons of diversity with the climates. States like Florida or Texas almost never see snow, while northern states get full blown winters where it isn't uncommon to see a foot or 2 of snow in a single session.

[@ruthparker9756]

Or a foot or two of snow in a few hours

[@squirrel2000]

@billy9144 In some places you get well over 18 feet of snow in a season. Sometimes more than 5 feet in a single storm. Glad I don't live there anymore.

[@jenniferschlichting8996]

Northern Minnesota here, I do the wiper thing..when I remember, I don't usually see anyone with chains on their tires unless they are bigger vehicles and more on roads less traveled. I have done the taps running and growing up in a trailer we needed to have a space heater running underneath the trailer to keep the pipes from freezing.

[@heatherqualy9143]

I live in the Cities. Chains are illegal here, I was pretty sure that was for all of Minnesota. 🤔

[@maidenminnesota1]

@@heatherqualy9143 No, tire studs were made illegal back in the 1970s, but tire chains are legal in the entire state, including the Cities. 2024 Minnesota Statutes Section 169.72 It is permissible to use any of the following on highways: (2) tire chains of reasonable proportions upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

[@f45125]

When it rarely freezes here in Florida, we draw water in the tub (for flushing the toilet) and 3 liters of water per person. We turn off the supply st the meter and then open the faucets to drain the pipes. munchies>. oWe do the same things during hurricanes, too! Florida

[@jimmyb.6272]

Even the “hot” states that you’re thinking of are not always hot all year round.

[@jasonspeck3889]

It’s true! Vegas can be 120 in the summer, but this morning when I woke up, it was 24

[@petethedete]

Some states have a much wider range than much of the UK. Summers will be much warmer and winters much colder

[@andyloy7809]

Yep 14 degrees here in East Tennessee a couple days ago, it hit 103-108 several times this past summer

[@debraknapp2660]

True, I live in southwestern New Mexico and though it is hot in summer we to get snow. I'm originally from southeastern Iowa ,like the rest of Northern states I grew up with below freezing Temps and alot of snow & ice and yes you learn after a few falls on ice to walk kinda like a penguin oŕ maybe a duck. 😂

[@christopherpittman2689]

Florida man here last year it got under 25f (that’s like -4c) and a water faucet on the outside of our house (that was insulated and covered) burst. This year it’s dipped down to around 28f (around -2c) a couple of nights so far. It can get super cold even in the sunshine state lol. I remember one time in the early 90s we even got a few inches of snow it was wild.

[@lauriefagg123]

Here in Northern Utah it is required it is the law to have either 4-wheel drive trucks and cars or have chains on your tires to get up most canyons where the ski resorts are. Utah is known for the best snow on Earth!! come ski but don't forget the chains on your tires!

[@jakethemcufan7021]

That’s nothing, jn Canada we have to have winter tires to avoid slipping on Ice roads 😂

[@lauriefagg123]

@@jakethemcufan7021 I am sure you do need snow tires in Canada, Jake. I have a little pickup truck and could get snow tires for every Winter. But I don't live where I can store the tires in the Summer. I have all-season tires and with tube sandbags in the back for weight I get around fairly well. Some people here in the US do have Winter tires put on their vehicle. I completely get it!

[@jakethemcufan7021]

@ Also because in Canada it’s against the law to not have winter tires in the winter because you’re endangering others

[@darcyjorgensen5808]

Every state has extreme weather. Get used to it and be prepared. Here in California we also have to be prepared for earthquakes. (Stockpile prescription drugs, water, shelf-stable foods, candles, flashlights, extra blankets and a camping stove. And get one of those crank-powered radios.)

[@TheCuddlebun]

Plus the surprise tornado yesterday!

[@ronaldmoore9941]

Here in Grand Forks, ND weather....... High -6° (-21c) Low -16° (-27c) Not including windchill... lol

[@Myomer104]

Here are two from Arizona (and I'm using the video's naming scheme): Port of Call: Many homes out in my area have what are called "carports." Imagine an attached garage with the exterior walls removed except for support pillars at each corner and in the middle of the outermost edge. Somehow, it prevents ice buildup on the car parked under it. Clothe the Faucets: Wrapping a rag around the exterior faucets works just as well as continuously running the taps for preventing freezing.

[@shirleyz7400]

Right now in Iowa where I live it’s -23 Celsius. We don’t see it that cold because by next month it will easily be -31 to -40 Celsius for us. We just bundle up better. Where I live they fish right on the lake & have ice fish houses/sheds. They might even have a small heater in there to keep warm. They drive right on the icy lake.

[@carlchiles1047]

If you have time, and did not anticipate frozen windows or windshields…just go out a few minutes early…start the car and turn on the car’s heat…like the air conditioning button…turn the temperature up ( our car temperature goes to 80)..and the warm air is directed toward the windows…thereby defrosting everything…something we did in New Jersey or Chicago…when nit scraping ice off with a plastic ice scraper…it’s simple…just takes a few minutes…and I am 78…

[@susan4337]

I do the same thing. By the time I clear the snow off the car, the windshield and rear window are almost all clear. I can’t even remember the last time I scraped the windows.

[@DragonflyDamsel]

In my city, we are not supposed to leave an unoccupied vehicle running in our driveway😮

[@itsme-rt7nz]

Better yet, clean out the garage and keep your car in it. That's what it's for. I never have to scrape.

[@LivingRoom-iy5vv]

Excellent advice! I'm fairly spoiled here, we have a garage so no scraping of windows. But, warming up the car is always good!

[@itsme-rt7nz]

@@LivingRoom-iy5vv Not so. Since fuel injection replaced carburetors a couple of decades ago, the engine no longer needs to be warmed up before driving. And of course idling engines emit CO2 which is a harmful greenhouse gas.

[@Dandee268]

When I grew up, they put chains on the school buses in snow or icy roads. We have steep hills and windy roads in KY where I grew up. Nowadays they close school.

[@justme5544]

I never shut the door to a back bedroom, for years. Then I did, later heard something. Opened the door and it was raining from the light in the middle of the room and all through my closet due to the burst pipe. It was a MESS! No shutoff so he had to cut the pipe in the basement and put a cap on it. Winter is wicked in the midwest.

[@lauriegunn9636]

lmao-it's -30 here right now and kinda slippery, but i have never seen the penguin walk before. 🐧🐧🤸‍♂🏂😁😆😆🍁

[@meeshmccoy]

@@lauriegunn9636 🤣

[@veronicamorgan9029]

People generally put the wipers up overnight to prevent trouble in the colder morning. Many folks use snow tires rather than chains. F

[@MichaelScheele]

Snow tires, studded or studless, are fantastic for winter driving conditions. The amount of additional traction compared to all-season tires is significant. If you can afford a set pre-mounted on steel rims, swapping them out is a relative breeze. Putting the wipers up is especially helpful if you experience an ice storm. Far less chance of damaging the wiper inserts while chipping/scraping the ice off of your windshield.

[@joshuacrock2910]

The potatoes to the windshield is also good for deflecting water . But I still prefer scraping.

[@sylvie1815]

The penguin walk is literally life saving... If you fall on ice you can seriously hurt yourself.. Broken tail bones, Dislocated Shoulders... I know a guy Who slipped and hit his head on the ice , and had Permanent Brain damage... Be a penguin L3wg 😂

[@Shoofool]

Lived in WI 62 years and never heard of or seen this!

[@larryfontenot9018]

If you move to a part of the US where winter hits hard, you WILL adjust how you walk. Or get used to falling and severely hurting yourself. We cut down on that by placing stretchable webs of spikes on our shoes, but on thick ice you still have to change how you walk to avoid slipping. After moving to the Midwest from Southern California, I learned how to walk in winter because I'm not fond of injuring myself.

[@courtneyd.3359]

Is it much different from hiking in the sand dunes?

[@larryfontenot9018]

@@courtneyd.3359 Absolutely. Instead of sand, it's more like trying to walk on wet glass. The ground is hard but frictionless.

[@nancyrukavena6992]

​@@larryfontenot9018Sometimes it's nearly impossible to get back up because its so slippery! No one is mentioning that! Ever see that Disney film where Bambi tries to stand up on the frozen pond? Yeah, it's like that! 😅

[@GreymanWalking]

@@courtneyd.3359 Hiking on Sand Dunes is easy compared to walking on Ice (take that from someone who lives in the Midwest but has Served in the US Military in Desert Countries).

[@lynntaylor6686]

I've lived in the Midwest my entire life and I've never used a potato on my car or cover my side mirrors with a plastic bag. Chains on tires and lightly running the water so the pipes don't freeze is common though. I've never used chains on tires where I live in the metro area of Milwaukee but I've heard they help. It's very nice to live in a home that comes with a garage to park your car here so I don't have to worry about the snow unless I'm driving.

[@debs-101]

Would one potato even cover the entire car? Also, just letting it run and heat up for 10 mins or so usually does the work for you if you don’t have a garage

[@GreymanWalking]

@@debs-101 It's just on the windows, not the entire car.

[@karenbertke3149]

The winter in the Midwest is nothing to joke about. The School Children's Blizzard of 1888 was the 10th deadliest blizzard with over 235 dead across the Great Plains region. 5:34 My favorite hack is to pack an old broom that's lost most of its bristles. I can sweep off up to 8 inches of snow without scratching the paint. 5:59 Rear view mirrors, or backup mirrors. Tire chains and tire studs are good. I generally pack ice melt, an old Afghan blanket, some granola bars, and some water. When the drive home can turn from 20 minutes to 2 hours, sometimes you turn off your car to preserve your fuel supply. Electric car batteries can lose their charge quickly in the bitter cold and there's a special formula gas that's put out in winter to avoid freezing.

[@aneaowens1120]

You don't leave the water running all the time. We only turn it on at night when the temperature is below 15 degrees Fahrenheit, about -10 Celsius. There are lots of hacks that work and you really need them in places that can get as cold as -30 to -50 F (-34 to -45 C). Yes that was in the Midwest as well.

[@Tina-j6s4r]

Im in northern Wisconsin, so we have lake affect snow storms. If it snows, we normally get 10 inches or more at a time. Cold temperatures can and have gotten -50f and -100 with the windchill factor. It has been proven that we can get temperatures lower than Alaska in the winter.

[@thoughtsofamisfit9008]

The temperature difference isn’t just one state to another… it’s the states themselves. Here in Ohio, this past summer we had a high of 98°F at one point (average summer highs are around 85-90°F generally)… and just the other week, we had a low of 24°F… and we have regularly seen below 10°F during the winter in the past. So our temperature shifts are pretty drastic here in the states!

[@kimgraber3671]

THIS! I had this same epiphany when talking to a guide in Peru that just could not wrap his head around the fact that we needed heat and air in the same location. We are in St. Louis so pretty much right in the middle. I did my best to explain to him that yes, most places in the U.S. need both. Most locations around the world just do not have the huge disparity in seasonal temps that we have in most of the U.S. This was all sparked by the fact that the locals in Lima were wearing winter coats, hats and gloves in the low 60's. That was winter to them and their average summer temps were low 80's; a 20 degree differential was what they were used to, lol, and he just couldn't fathom that we could easily have a 70 degree difference between winter and summer.

[@engletinaknickerbocker5380]

I'm howling at Lewis' astonishment. But, actually living in Wyoming and Alaska almost for the majority of my life, I'm surprised Laurence has collected in one place all these tips that were just part and parcel of winter car travel in my youth. Traveling to Canada in winter also it was advisable to have a box in the trunk for a bag of cat sand, flares, chemical heat for frozen doors, headlamp lightsource, windshield snow covers, and a folding shovel, silver blankets, first aid kit.

[@bmadn4111]

The hacks are for sanity❣️ Inconsistency of weather is whacked. Two feet of snow last week and travel bans. Nearly 50F yesterday back to 20F tomorrow. Influencing outcomes when you can helps.

[@sandygrunwaldt1780]

We're under a winter storm warning and have already got a foot of snow and more snow on the way. It's 14 degrees and will be colder and more snow tomorrow. Love From Michigan and it's a cold and very snowy Evening ❤❤

[@squirrel2000]

@@sandygrunwaldt1780 The wind was wicked last night.

[@daricetaylor786]

It is so fun to watch your reaction videos

[@tippygladstone6726]

I live in the snow belt. (Midwest) I never used any of the car hacks he mentions. I know that in the mountains out west they use chains. As long as you have good tires and leave space between you and the car ahead and don’t drive scared you’ll be fine. The snow gets deep enough that you will walk all kinds of different weird ways just to get through, but the “penguin walk” I don’t think is a thing.

[@nancyrukavena6992]

I've done and seen the penguin walk, but the demonstration I saw was new to me! Wtf was THAT?!? 😅

[@garrettphillips9398]

Living in Colorado and only wearing converse I can assure you the penguin walk is the way to go

[@ItsTime-l1p]

In addition to letting your faucet drip, if the plumbing is on an outside wall (not outside), open the cabinet doors under the sink exposing the plumbing to the ambient temperature of the house. You'd be surprised at the temperature difference between a closed cabinet under the sink and the rest of the heated house.

[@seanpaula8924]

Just put my snow thower on my tractor. Tonight it will be 14°F with 40 mph winds. Wind chill will be brutal.

[@Jo-oq4vt]

Chicago winters were rough and most of the time I lived in houses with no garage. Garages are fantastic and the best thing in the winter. There were times we had to dig our car out of the frozen snow or three feet of snow only to be buried again when the snow plow trucks drove by.

[@Aday442]

Heated seats come in clutch

[@SuburbanSavage]

I lived in an apartment where I had to run a hose from the sink into the toilet in order to keep it from freezing solid during the winter. The bathroom had once been a cold storage pantry in the 1930's, so it had no insulation from the elements. I've never had snow chains, as they're not widely used in my immediate area (Philadelphia), but I've never heard of the potato thing at all. Another weird snowstorm tradition, at least on the east coast, is to buy as much bread, milk, and toilet paper as possible. Like in survivalist amounts. No one knows why we do this, but it can get like Black Friday when there's a storm. At worst, you might get snowed in for a day or two, but you don't need 6 gallons of milk or 10 loaves of white bread. It's insane. When I know there's a snowstorm coming, I just buy snacks because I'll be watching movies all day.

[@shirleyz7400]

Also after a ice storm that we get a lot in Iowa I put on these little cleats you can just put them on any shoe so I can walk on the ice. It can be a skating rink out here. You should watch the movie "Grumpy Old Men" movie. It was recorded close to my state. It’s hilarious & shows how it is where I live.

[@celestejavier6464]

These are very few of the weird things. 😂 I'm in SE Michigan. We do sometimes have to drip our faucet, but we also open the sink cabinets to let warm air inside. You don't have to waddle like a penguin. Just bend your knees a little to bring your center of gravity lower. We keep blankets and hot packs in our cars in case we get stranded or stuck. A tow truck takes HOURS in a storm, and people have frozen. The lake effects weather is really wild! You should do a video on just MI weather. I remember it was 80°f one day in October and then snowing the next day. We have tornados and snow lightning. Sometimes, you can see the northern lights.

[@shirleyz7400]

I usually put this one stuff on my windows RAIN-X. It helps the ice come off easily. Some people put like a insulated blanket thingy that’s made for vehicles on the windshield & when their ready to go they just pull it off & you don’t have to scrape anything off. I have a battery warmer on my car & plug it in at night or when I’m not using it for a lot of hours because the cold can make your battery not work.

[@nhenion]

I’ve lived in Montana my whole life and something we do in the colder months is put bubble wrap on our windows. You cut the bubble wrap to the size of the window pane, then spray water on the window. The water will make the bubble wrap stick to the glass. Then when you’re ready to take it down you just peel it off like a film. It acts as a little bit of extra insulation to keep the cold out while also still allowing all the natural light in

[@JamesMaldonado-dm9zm]

In North America, some Canadians flock to the Southern Srates for the winter just like Canadian Geese.

[@jakethemcufan7021]

Because us Canadians actually have a shit winter.

[@arcanewyrm6295]

If you live in an area where snow and ice are common occurrences in the winter, most of these are common practices (I can't speak to the potato thing, though). As for the rest, I have either done myself or have personally seen every single one of these in practice. Lifted wipers overnight when expecting snow or freezing rain, tire chains, the plastic bag over the mirror, the penguin waddle - all of them work for the purpose they're intended for. Additionally, I've been known (especially in rear-wheel drive vehicles) to keep sometimes five or six 50-lb (22kg-ish) bags of salt (ice melt) for two reasons: one is for added weight on the drive wheels (if RWD), and two is to help get myself unstuck in the event I find myself needing it. It makes for great traction (better than either sand or cat litter in most situations) under a slipping tire, especially on ice. The salt chunks are bigger than sand crystals and kitty litter particles, so they bite into the ice better, plus they actively melt the ice and weaken it. And after you slip and fall on your tailbone/back/face on [pavement covered in ice] once or twice, you learn pretty quick that the penguin waddle is good practice when walking on a sheet of ice. If it's level. If it's on an incline, well.... good luck. 😂

[@kencollins1186]

Do NOT pour boiling water on the windshield to melt the ice! That might seem obvious, but some idiot tried it. His windshield shattered and he had the problem of getting it replaced during a snowstorm..

[@scrappypirate2268]

Save your potatoes. A trick I learned this year is partially fill a large ziploc baggie with hot water from the sink and drag it across frost build up on your windows/mirrors in the morning. It works surprisingly well.

[@heatherhitchens3212]

You leave the sink dripping at night. The temps drop so much at night bit during the day it’s not as cold.

[@brendateague9111]

You are most definitely not cut out for a harsh American winter. Best to visit in the summer, Lew. ❄️❄️❄️☃️⛄️

[@jakethemcufan7021]

American winter are nothing, you guys barely get any snow. Try out our brutal Canadian winter. 😂🇨🇦

[@kathrynhunter5380]

We get a lot of ice, snow, wind, & pretty cold temps. here in the upper (MN & Iowa) Midwest, especially at night before it changes to snow & temperatures go into free fall. Cars left outdoors can be really miserable to de-ice in the morning & sometimes when the temperature drops severely, with high winds & and snow, our vehicle doors&windows are frozen shut. As well as the car hood, trunk & everything else with up to half inch of hard ice. Car door latches can break, windshield wiper blades lose a years wear, & heaven help you if car battery is "Stone dead" after sitting all night in high wind & below zero temperatures. With 6-8 inches of snow covering the ice. You also find your hood release won't work (frozen) & hood is frozen as well😂 This is not uncommon weather for people who work overnight shifts. And your ice chipper & and broom, along with your spray can of de-icer, are froz inside your car! However, most of us on nights like this will run out during a break and start our vehicles to warm them up & prevent the things I just described. And another warm-up again just before shift ends on last break if it's really cold. But really cold means different things to people here. Really cold for me was anything starting at -15 F (normal temperature) plus adding in whatever the windchill was. Machinery, like cars & SUVs start getting pretty stiff at -10 to -15 F. And BTW, people here help one another if someone is having vehicle trouble. Many of us also carry jumper cables in our vehicles & winter survival gear. Along with a lot of other "Stuff" to help out if needed.😊

[@carlchiles1047]

You might require more than a single visit here…one in the Spring/early Summer…and another late fall /early winter for the stunning beauty of the trees changing…or mid-winter…when you should be guaranteed to feel the snow…Colorado/up-state New York..or Minnesota/Wisconsin…Chicago…

[@fishinwidow35]

I have chains for my boots. I also get sand to spread in my walkway and driveway. I stay home when the weather is bad. Screw driving in that crap. You can open your cupboard door along with letting the water drip to keep pipes from freezing. I put my defrosters on before scraping my windows, it loosens the ice. Also, put your visors down and they direct the heat back onto the windshield so it defrosts faster

[@babydew8759]

Only time I left the bathroom sink going was when the power was out in the winter it's the smallest trickle. If you have a basement and shut off the water to the outside hose you will be fine. If you have a crawl space ya you can have more of a problem but you can wrap them to. Turn your car on crank up the defrost it will make scraping ice easier. The biggest thing to learn is how to rock your car if you get stuck in the snow.

[@acbigal]

The pipes we have here in my area wasn't made for frigid temps like say Colorado. The expanding ice freezing in the pipes will cause them to burst and cause an under house gusher flooding the crawl space. The drip method is essential to save your selves a ton of money in house repairs on exceptionally cold days that are out of character.

[@Sherry-h8m]

We use to have spiked tires which had to be taken off when winter was over. That is why you put your car in your garage if you have one. I was born and raised in Kalamazoo Michigan. We had a blizzard one year where we had 6 feet of snow from one side of the house to the other and 3 feet from the front of the garage to the sidewalk then it was 4 feet out in the street. It took 2 weeks just to get half of our garage driveway shoveled. Now I live in Venus Texas where the summer gets over 100 degrees. There are days I wish I was in the snow. I do miss white Xmas. Have a great weekend!

[@nncortes]

Growing up in Northern Minnesota, studying in the U.P., and now living in Michigan, I’ve never done anything on this list. I do have kitty litter and survival kits in my car though.

[@rtyria]

My dad has a frost shield he puts on his truck that keeps things from freezing to the windshield. Then all he has to do is clear the snow and he's ready to go.

[@catherinesearles1194]

It's easier to insulate the pipes. Usually pool noodles and duct tape work just fine. This is for pipes located in the garage or a badly heated basement. This is why you turn the water off to the hose tap that you water your lawn with.

[@carieannern]

You can't get to the pipes inside the exterior walls. One night while sleeping I heard what sounded like a water fall. It was one of these pipes that froze and burst. Rand to the basement to shut off the main. Went back to bed and dealt with the mess and repair in the morning. Wall tear out pipe repair and wall rebuild. Would have been worse had it happened when we were not home.

[@catherinesearles1194]

@carieannern which is why you insulate the pipes where it enters the home.

[@pagevaughn9194]

If you really want to see a big blizzard? Look up the Blizzard of 1978!! It happened the day after my Birthday, woke up to get ready for school. My Mother said I don't think there is school today. Looked outside we had snow drifts that were two story's high! Couldn't see out the windows! It's a hell of a story!! You know your on the right path when it's located northeast Ohio. Happy searching!!

[@GreymanWalking]

I was 5 I remember that blizzard, I remember seeing the snow cover the entire side of the house (with snow drifts) could walk from the ground to the roof of our single story house.

[@damselinadress2069]

Not everyone experiences snow on the regular. Some places don't freeze at all during the winter months. It varies so differently.

[@anderw2]

That is how I know that winter is officially over. When your walking gate goes back to normal, instead of walking while trying not to fall over

[@TexasRose50]

Even here in southeast Texas, we get freezing temps. And we get insulated pipe wrap, and wrap all exposed pipes. And especially pipes that go to your water heater if it's located in an area where the pipes can freeze. AND, during our really cold spell years ago, I threw a heavy moving blanket over the gas meter. Because one time, condensation got into the gas lines and froze and kept our gas heater from working. And that reminds me, I need to walk around and check all Mt pipes. The cats love to use then as scratching posts!

[@carolynwoodrow3092]

cold weather is why, if possible, we have attached garages. Our last house even had heat vent to let a little heat in the garage in winter. It was nice. Some homes have heated driveways to melt snow and ice.

[@thrashmetal67]

Chains are required on some Mt. Passes in Oregon and Washington during winter months. There are even pull over areas designated for putting your chains on before going any further up the mountain. There are also studded tires also known as snow tires that have to be switched out for regular tires and vice versa, so twice yearly. Or all weather tires that can be on all year but have better traction than regular tires.

[@williamscoggin1509]

I have lived in a couple of places where when it got really cold the cold air and when would seap in around windows in the old houses. I figured out I could stuff some paper towels around the edges of the windows and then wet them and the cold wind trying to come in would freeze the water on the towels and seal the gaps. Made a big difference cuz it was really cold when I figured it out. LOL