Dealing With Winter
Winter Weather Tips From Meteorologists
Preparing for unpredictable winter weather? Take stock of your home, vehicle and planning tools to ensure your family stays safe and warm all winter long.
Luckily, expert meteorologists know a thing or two about predicting the unexpected. They shared their top winter tips.
Stay Safe on the Road
Traveling this winter? Meteorologists suggest being prepped for the road before leaving. If your car’s snow accessories have been sitting for a long time, it may be wise to make sure it’s in proper working order. This may include checking whether it’s time for an oil change.
In snowy climates, outfit your car with winter tires, which can withstand winter weather more effectively than all-season tires. Whether or not you’re traveling, ready your car by monitoring tire pressure, testing your car battery, keeping an eye on windshield and wiper blades and adding a coat of wax if you can.
Get Cozy at Home
Channel your inner meteorologist to keep the house safe. Meteorologists have some simple hacks for preventing messes such as frozen pipes, broken radiators, flooding and leaks:
Replace worn out weather stripping around windows and doors and make sure your rain gutters are cleared of leaves and other debris. Clogged gutters can lead to problems when it comes to snow, ice and below freezing temperatures.
To prevent clogged drains, you can make a simple, environmentally-friendly mixture of salt, baking soda, and cream of tartar, then pour it into drains once a week. Opening cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathroom can help circulate warmer air around plumbing. In frigid conditions, let a bit of water drip from faucets, especially where pipes aren’t insulated. You can also unhook garden hoses before the first hard freeze to prevent busted pipes.
For older furnaces that may need replacing, schedule a tune-up. Also make sure to clear leaves and snow away from his heat pump to ensure air flow. Anything in the way of air flow can affect your heating system’s efficiency.
Get an Insider View
A one-size-fits-all weather report isn’t sufficient when it comes to planning. Weather apps such as AccuWeather’s Winter Center page provides detailed winter weather predictions just like a meteorologist would, with everything from the newly added ice accumulation tracker to the wind speed calculator. You can also find forecasts designed for specific interests and needs, including the outlook for snow sports and longer-range looks at the months ahead.
No matter what your winter plans are, you can plan with confidence like a meteorologist, for a safe, warm winter.
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