My first winter?

Question

So I lived in Florida most of my life. I now live in Baltimore MD. I have no idea what to do to prepare for winter. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Its really not so bad, but there are things you want to be ready with.

As stated above, a good coat, gloves, hat, and scarf are all key. If you will need to do a lot of walking outside, to get to your job or if you have a dog, then some sort of snow boots are a must.

For your car - get a combo ice sraper/snow brush to clean your car off. Get used to the idea of letting your car warm up so the heat is cranking by the time you are ready to drive. If you don't have them already and a new car is on the horizon, seat warmers are an option to look for.

It is more dangerous to drive on ice than snow - especially watch for damp conditions that can freeze over as day turns to night and tempertures drop. Once it gets dark it is sometimes hard to tell a wet road from a slick, icy one. Major roads are typically sprayed down with salt or sand to help with ice melt and traction, but the salt can be corrosive. Best to have your car washed as soon as you can if you get salt on it (will look like a white film on the lower half of your car)

At home, a nice thick blanket or comforter is a must. Wearing socks to bed is common practice. Fireplaces are nice and portable electric heaters can come in handy for that one drafty room that never seems to be warm enough, but make sure it has saftey features like an automatic shut off if it tips over. Avoid portable gas heaters, they are the cause of many house fires.

Familiarize yourself with the term "wind chill factor." Basically is means really cold + really windy = feels like the North Pole. While the temperature outside might be only 30 degrees, a good brisk wind can make it feel like its only 17 degrees. When deciding how many layers to put on or to even go out at all, pay more attention to wind chill than the actual temperature.

Last, like any other weather condition, a real cold spell or snow can be predicted with a certain amount of reliability. Just keep an eye on the weather forecasts and plan accordingly.

Answer 2

Down coat and add a couple of pounds for warmth and you will need a good ice scraper, snow shovel, time to warm up your car and salt to put on the ground, so you don't break your neck....books to read and candles for light when the power goes out and a generator never hurts in emergencies. Soup and home baked bread warm your soul when it seems like winter will never end.

Answer 3

Get shoes! My first winter outside of Florida I realized I had no good shoes! Sneakers are not warm enough when they get wet.

Also get a warm coat that covers your butt! Dress in layers. That way when you are inside you can take off a few layers and when outside put them back on. Also get a pair of gloves and/or mittens.

Good Luck! (I moved back to FL,could not handle the cold!)

Answer 4

Well if your home is drafty you may want to purchase some window insulator kits.. Just measure your windows and buy the appropriate size for your windows.. Follow instructions and your windows will be draft free... *Need a hairdryer, to use kits.. Have your furnace cleaned and checked and replace furnace filter(s) every month.. A clean furnace is a more efficient furnace.. Make sure you have a fully stocked pantry.. So, you don't have to venture out if the weather is bad.. Maybe even have some bottled water, canned soups just in case you are snowed in and can't get out.. Get a snowblower, a good shovel or hire someone to shovel walkways/driveways.. *Also, in case of power outage, keep a flashlight w/ batteries in everyroom by your bed so you know where it is and an emergency kit where you can get to it.. check out redcross.org for a list of supplies to keep on hand !
Get your car checked by a mechanic for any preventative maintance- and *have him check your cars thermostate you may have to have it changed due to climate...If it's an older vehicle... Keep at least 1/2 tank at all times so you don't get fuel line freeze up and park it in a garage if you have one available... Keep oil, anitfreezer, washer fluid in your trunk at all times and get new wiper blades.. If you have a nice/newer car get it washed at least once a week to prevent rust/salt damage. *If you have an old cell phone keep it in the glove box or trunk even an old cell phone will call 911 *even if disconnected !
Get a nice warm coat, gloves, hat, scarf and boots.. Keep a safety kit in your car (flashlights, jumper cable, hand warmers, oil, washer fluid/anti freeze and maybe some power bars or some pre-pkg. crackers/water, warm blanket, extra shoes/socks/warm jacket) and AAA in case you get stuck or your battery dies on your car.. It's not expensive and it's nice to know that if you need a tow it's covered up front ! good luck...

Answer 5

All the answers about getting the right clothes are good ones. Also, don't forget to bring in your houseplants that may be outside before the first freeze happens. Make sure there is anti freeze in your car, and your tires have the right amount of air pressure. Check your doors and windows for any gaps that might let cold air in, and caulk them if you find gaps. Test your heater before you need it, just to make sure it works okay.

Answer 6

buy uggs, a comfy down coat, several pairs of gloves/mittens, hats, scarves, thick long socks, leggings (to wear under jeans when it's very cold) and long sleeved thermal shirts (you can find them at delia's and probably other places like that). i live in new york and the winters are quite cold here, so i know!
oh, and if you have a fireplace, light it whenever you're inside for a few hours at a time. it helps soooo much. hot cocoa is great too!

Answer 7

Buy plane tickets back to Florida for a vacation this winter.

Answer 8

Winter Cold <3 :)

Answer 9

Pretty much buy warm clothes.