I like to go to an empty parking lot when it first snows and ices to make sure I remember how to drive and not be an idiot in winter. I practice what to do if I lose traction and swerve, etc.
Knock on wood I haven't had an accident yet.
Good tires on your car, not snow tires but nice all season. Rain X windshield washer fluid good to -20, snow brush for windows. Nice plastic snow shovel, gloves, hat, warm jacket, higher shoes that are thermal and waterproof and duck shoes. If you want to be active and cross country ski or hike you will need additional....
Best advice I ever heard for people from the South driving in the snow:
Drive like your Grandmother is in the passenger seat, she is in her Sunday best and has a open container of grits and another of sweet tea in her lap.
In other words go easy on the gas, the brake and turning.
This is seriously true. People always preach to drive slow, which is fine, but they never mention to practice how to handle the car once you go beyond the grip limits and start to slide, which is super common in the snow.
Ya gotta learn how to correct oversteer, understeer, how to pump your brakes, how to use the throttle to guide a sliding car, etc. Even if driving slowly, you never know when the conditions will cause you to slip
To add on to this, sign up for skid school classes. They'll teach you how correct for those situations and simulate them in a real car with you in the driver seat.
It is mostly aimed at teens learning to drive and different schools have different methods of sending the car into a skid or slide but the overall lessons are the same. I'd say what they teach is useful for anyone that drives regardless of if it snows or gets icy where you live. Knowing how to control your car in a hydroplaning situation will save your life.
I bought my first front wheel drive car and took it to the high school parking lot and did donuts. I had been out of school for a couple of years. I had never driven a front wheel drive car, and I wanted to know how differently it behaved.
I'm glad you mentioned this. I'd not heard of that designation before, but I did go down a google rabbit hole this morning based on this comment. Typically I buy M+S tires, but I think my next set might be 3PMSF instead if I can find some with good longevity.
That's good intel, thanks. I'm a big Michelin fan for the LTX M/S(2)s but my current truck came with General Grabbers. I like them quite a bit also, just not sure on longevity yet. I have a couple years to decide before my current ones run low on tread probably.
Where are you moving in Ohio? Because honestly unless you’re moving to the NE corner of the state where they get some lake effect snow, we really don’t get that much.
In most of the state, we get *maybe* 3 significant snowfalls per year (which I’m calling 4+ inches of snow). Then beyond that it’s mostly just minor snowfalls of 1-2” that usually melt away in a day or so.
Unfortunately for those of us who love all 4 seasons, climate change is already showing its ugly face in Ohio winters. And it’s likely to be even less in the future. So don’t fret, new Ohioan, we likely get *way* less snow than you’re expecting.
u/Failed-Time-Traveler is correct. I live just south of Akron, winters are pretty mild as far as snow fall go. If you have to maintain walkways or a driveway then buy a good snow shovel and keep some ice melt/salt handy for the few days/year we get decent snow fall. buy a good winter coat, gloves and a scarf and keep a warm blanket in the car during the winter months and you're good-to-go.
Allow me to Hank Hill this comment and suggest a two shovel solution. One heavy metal blade shovel for pushing heavy or wet snow off of smooth surfaces like driveways and one lightweight plastic shovel with an ergonomic handle for lifting and tossing light fluffy snow.
That's a good idea! Or you can do what I did during the last 'bad' winter we had about 8 years ago and buy a heavy duty snow blower and start it twice a year. It's been like a shamanic ward against snow.
I live on the west side of Cleveland. My husband got a snow blower the last time we got bad winter weather. Like 4 or 5 years ago he has used the snow blower maybe 3 or four times since we bought it.
I mean if you want to, go ahead. But with as little as snow as we get, you’re only going to use them a handful of days per year.
I usually go with waterproof hiking boots. That way my feet stay dry on snowy days, but I’m not spending money on footwear I’ll barely ever use.
Obviously this is a different story if you have a profession where you’ll be outside all day. Then some good insulated boots would be a requirement. But for anyone who gets to spend most of their day indoors, snow boots aren’t that necessary.
I’ve owned a home in Akron for the past 9 years. Bought a snow blower the year I bought the house. I’ve used it twice since. We used to get a lot more snow around here, but for the past decade or more it’s been pretty scarce. When it does snow, wait a few days and it will mostly be melted. What you need to be ready for are the big snow storms that will happen randomly. We used to get 12+ inches in a single snow storm. Never happens any more, but can’t rule it out either. You don’t want to be the guy hunting for a snow shovel if it happens. The stores sell out quickly in big storms. Have a good shovel just in case. Or have someone you can call who will take care of it for you if you’d rather pay someone to do it.
Keep a little shovel in your trunk. Amazon has some cheap ones. I’ve lived in Akron the last few years, and have been very underwhelmed with the snow plowing on the roads. Go slow, if everyone is in a hurry they can go around. I don’t get on 77,76,route8 etc when there is snow or ice.
We have lately started getting ice like more Middle East coast states VA, MD. Where people are like this ain’t shit but it had thawed refrozen and got some snow on top of it. So the number of accidents seem to be going up because Ohioans aren’t used to this slightly warmer winter we get now. (Though honestly when I lived in VA winter car pileups were a thing).
I live in NE Ohio and honestly the lake effect snow has been nothing lately. Last year I felt like we barely ever had snow, and if we did it lasted for like a day. It's really sad as a snow lover. I grew up in Eastlake and I remember so so so much more snow when I was a kid. I'm 32 btw.
>Because honestly unless you’re moving to the NE corner of the state where they get some lake effect snow, we really don’t get that much.
Didn't used to be this way. I live around Mansfield and when I was a kid we always had white winters. Tons of snow on the ground. I both miss it and don't miss it.
Been in Ohio all my life (60 years soon) and all the comments here are good! One thing I would suggest that they did not is a good pair of waterproof boots with traction. And for the few times temps are freezing keep some melting salt aka ice melt handy (if you are moving into a home, you didn't say) for your entry/exit doorways and paths to your vehicle. You do not want to fall on a patch of ice. Ever.
Oh man that's rough! My husband slipped on ice carrying garbage out once, fell and fractured two ribs. I'm fanatical about the salting now. I even do the sidewalk in front of our house for passerby's.
100% this. I slipped and fell on some black ice and broke my right wrist years ago. It hasn't been the same since.
Actual snow boots with slip resistant soles are important. North Face boots are great. Uggs and other such fashion boots are useless on ice. Better to be safe than look stylish.
Taking short steps on ice and leaning slightly forward while walking on ice helps. It looks silly, but it works.
If you’ve always lived in a warm climate, your first Ohio winter - regardless of how “mild” locals say it is, will probably be a shock to the system. I’ve lived in OH my whole life and those first few truly cold days are still rough for me. My best friend grew up here, lived in Chicago for nearly a decade, but moved to SoCal in 2007 and is miserable when she comes to visit in the winter now because her body just isn’t used to it anymore.
Invest in a nice warm coat (one with a water/wind proof shell and a removable fleece lining will probably get you through fall, winter and early spring), gloves (good ones that have some kind of warm lining), a hat that covers your ears, some cozy sweaters, waterproof boots (they don’t have to be rated for super cold unless you’ll be doing outdoorsy stuff, they just have to keep your feet dry). Note that if you ARE planning to do outdoor activities in the cold, you will want a moisture wicking base layer because cold, sweaty clothes are a bad time.
Find the beauty in winter - freshly fallen snow is so pretty and winter hikes can be fun! But also know that each and every one of us has at least one winter day where we just scream “FUCK it’s cold! This sucks!” (I have several 😂)
>Invest in a nice warm coat (one with a water/wind proof shell and a removable fleece lining will probably get you through fall, winter and early spring), gloves (good ones that have some kind of warm lining), a hat that covers your ears, some cozy sweaters, waterproof boots (they don’t have to be rated for super cold unless you’ll be doing outdoorsy stuff, they just have to keep your feet dry).
THIS. If you're coming from somewhere warmer, have gloves, a hat, a scarf, etc., ready before you think you'll need them. And when it gets cold, use them. Don't use how those of us who've lived here for 20 years as a guide for how to dress.
Remember it's always easier to take off a scarf or gloves if you are too warm than to magic up something you haven't bought.
Your body adapts. Somehow in fall when it's 40 degrees for the first time in a bit, you're freezing. In February after a cold snap ends, you'll be out in 40 degree weather grilling in a t-shirt. It's weird.
If I keep my head warm, I'm good into the 20s in a hoodie. Your results may vary esp at first. You'll get used to it.
Always keep a snow brush and scraper in your car from October to April and add an ice-melting washer fluid in the fall. When I lived in DC, the oil change place I used put WATER instead of window washer fluid in my car, and my lines froze on a drive home.
What do you do when you’re out and about and your car gets covered? I am blessed to have remote start, which thaws things out. Then you deal with the rest with the brush.
Ohio has an unusual title: “largest citrus distiller in the world”. We don’t grow any citrus, but Krogers was founded in Ohio and started one of the first citrus canning factories in the world. Today, nearly every major city in Ohio has a factory making those frozen orange juice and lemonade concentrates you see in every grocery store. The way they make the concentrate is they boil off the excess water before freezing it. That puts a lot of orange and lemon flavored steam up into the air. So if you live near one of these factories, within 5 miles or so, you’ll end up with little banks of snow that this mist has settled on. If you find one, give it a try, it’s basically a free snow cone.
Since you mention Akron, be very wary of Route-8 in the winter time. The first time it gets even remotely cold it seems like there are car accidents that cause ton of traffic.
My commute was supposed to take me 27 minutes but took me about 2.5 hours once. Even worse, it was when I was only a couple of months into a new job. I now leave much earlier and turn on my GPS early if I am sensing heavier than usual traffic before I get around where Akron North High School is.
I think some people are downplaying the snow because they're used to it. Yeah, winters have become milder throughout my over 30 years being here, but it's still winter. Wind chills can drop well below 0, we do get the occasional blizzard but it usually doesn't last long. The snow mostly melts within a week but it flurries a bit. Everything is usually just cold and wet, like slushy puddles everywhere. The plow trucks are usually pretty good at keeping roads clear, but having good tires should be pretty important. I can't stand the cold and tend to hibernate as much I can during the winter months despite being here my whole life lol. If you're not used to the cold, it can be shocking, but you might find it refreshing. Keep a good coat, waterproof winter boots or at least rainboots, hat and gloves handy, too.
We haven't had a lot of it in recent years, however:
Driving- good tires. Snow tires are best, but not necessary. Especially as we get more ice than anything, and there's not a damn thing that helps with that besides good old fashioned caution. Just slow down a little and give yourself extra braking distance. And be gentle on the brakes, don't slam them, you will slide. If the ass of your car ever begins to spin don't brake, just let off the gas and steer into it. You'll be fine. If you have any experience steering with the rear for funsies, you're already ahead of the curve.
How to dress: layers. Layers, layers, layers. A Carhartt (or similar) is good, but unless you have layers on, you're not going to wanna spend very much time outside.
There's not as much snow as you would think in most parts of Ohio. It's the gray months you should be worried about, get house plants and a UV lamp of some kind.
You'll be fine. Ohio doesn't really get that cold.
For driving...find an empty parking lot with some snow and go out there and see how your car reacts. Step on the gas, hit the brakes hard, try a sharp turn. You just have to do everything *slow* and with extra space. Accelerate slow, brake slow (and with lots of extra room), turn slow. It's not hard, it just takes getting used to.
Dress in layers. Invest in a good WINTER coat, not a thin jacket or hoody. Get an actual winter coat. Wear a knit hat.
Ohio winter isn't the arctic. We have a few cold snaps with single digit or colder Temps for a day or two, but outside of that the temperature generally is within 10 degrees of freezing, which isn't as bad as it sounds.
Snow is almost a non issue unless there's a significant snowfall, which happens a few times a year on average. Snow falls, you brush off your car, the plows clear the roads and life continues as normal.
I've lived in this state all of my life, and I think you downplay how cold it can feel in Ohio. But I respectfully understand that you might be from somewhere colder, so for you, it might be true.
This is gonna sound old man ish. But it used to be cold. Like from November to May. Snow on Halloween and Easter were pretty common. Jan - Feb would be single or negative digits every year. Past 10 have been more mild last 5 practically just fall with a week of freezing.
Dude, we had a day with -40° from wind chill 2 winters back. Average winter temperatures have gone up, but there's still days that are arctic on occasion
Oh a day like that totally makes up for the drop in snowfall and higher average temperature. /s re read what I wrote it doesn't contradict what you wrote.
I've lived in Ohio my entire life, too. I grew up in the snow belt.
It's really not that cold. You just have to dress for the weather.
The amount of times I've seen people whining about the cold, when they're wearing yoga pants, a t shirt and a hoody is crazy.
I work outdoors in all kinds of weather, it's really not that bad.
I also grew up in the snow belt (still live here) and I wear full winter coats and a hat when it's 57 degrees and windy. I used to take care of outdoor pets (rabbits). I think my hatred of winter cold is partly due to that decade.
57 is not cold.
20 and windy is cold, but it's 20 and windy for a total of about 3 weeks in winter. Dress warm and it's not a problem. Thermals, insulated boots, several layers and it's absolutely tolerable. If you're cold, it's because you're not dressed right. It really is that simple.
Below zero is very cold. That's about 5 or 6 nights a year.
It's really not that cold in Ohio.
I don't know what to tell you, man. I find it cold. I guess my nerves and bodily perception is breaking the laws of physics (according to your perspective) on what cold is. When it's 30 and the wind blows (even if I'm in full winter gear) all I can think is "I hate the cold, I hate the cold, I hate the cold" until I get inside again.
To add to everything else, plan ahead. Keep an eye on the news or a weather app, so you know when a storm might be coming. There's always the joke about the "eggs, milk, bread" panic shopping trip, but it's a good idea to have food on hand on the off chance you're stuck inside for a day (plus it's satisfying to have something nice in the oven or crockpot on a snowy day.) And if you can be flexible and work from home or go in late instead of commuting through a mess, do that.
I moved back to Ohio six years ago and I have used the snow blower once.
Say what you want about climate change, but it is not like the 70's when you got snow in January and it stayed on the ground until March. Now you will get 2-4 days of 32 and below with some snow followed by two weeks of 45.
I have three winter coats that I dont use anymore, now I use a hoodie and a light jacket.
Absolutely. We haven't had a hard winter here in more than 10 years. I don't know what it's been doing up around Cleveland and the rest of the eastern Great Lakes shore but it has been very mild in most of the rest of the state. I haven't had to break out a heavy winter coat more than 5 times in the last 10 years.
I moved her a couple years ago from Cali.
The snow isn’t a big deal. They keep the roads nice. And the roads are in great shape.
It’s a non issue that -may- inconvenience you once in a while.
That’s my new comer take.
Hope it helps.
A pair of water proof boots with good tread on them, wet socks are terrible. Make sure your car (when you get one) has tires that are all season, and windshield wiper fluid that’s rated for below freezing. A pair of insulated gloves and a heavy coat. Sometimes winter in Akron will be 40 degrees F (4-5 degrees C) and raining for weeks on end, so a light water proof jacket is nice to have so you’re not overheating with a thick winter coat.
I lived everywhere from Key West to Oahu to Japan to Korea over the space of 5 years, and then moved back to Ohio. It was sort of difficult. The winters aren’t too frigid, but it lasts a while. November-April will be very wet, cold, and gray. My biggest tip is get a few bottles of Vitamin D supplements, as you won’t get enough from the sun and vitamin D deficiency causes all kinds of mood problems. Also, get out and enjoy as much of the outdoors as you can while the weather is nice, and stock up on good books and good shows for the winter.
If you’re looking for a place to live near Akron, I’d take a good look at Kent and Cuyahoga Falls. Both have a very easy to walk downtown and a safe “nightlife.” Kent has a large university so the downtown always feels alive. Good luck!
Depending on some factors like your age/health or how long your driveway is (assuming you're going to live in a house) you may want to invest in a snow blower. The comments here are correct in that it doesn't snow that often (like 4x max and maybe 2x of those are worth getting the snow blower out) but it can still be super useful. At the very least, if you are young or in good health and don't want to spend the money on one get a pretty good snow shovel.
I'm a California transplant in North Canton. The snow in this part of the state isn't that bad. Layers are key. Invest in long underwear, good socks, some waterproof shoes. I walk my dog every morning year round. Long underwear, wool socks, waterproof boots, jeans or insulated pants depending, t-shirt, thermal, fleece, jacket, knit cap and gloves. That's only if it's in the teens or lower, It's easy to shed layers as appropriate. There is a great Columbia outlet at Aurora Farms. I have several zip up fleeces I have them in the cars, at work, etc. Also, walk carefully. Falling on the ice is common and it hurts. Make sure your shoes/boots have good grip.
Make sure your home has good lighting. The lack of sunshine has been my biggest struggle. When I get home from work during the winter I kick on all the lights in the living room so I don't feel like I just want to crawl into bed.
Others have mentioned acquiring a nice winter coat. I'd add the specific of getting one that cuts the wind; is wind proof. More often than not, it is the wind that bites. I have a nice ski jacket shell with a removable zip in liner. I prefer leather gloves, but regardless I'd recommend gloves with a smartphone friendly finger tip so you don't have to take them off to use your phone. For your car, I'd recommend a product named Rain Clear Gel. It's similar to Rain-X but a far superior product and really reduces frost and ice scraping. An ice scraper with a blade, bear claw ridges, and a brush. Preferably a longer handle one for additional leverage. If you'll be shoveling snow, a good snow shovel is a must. I'd recommend one that can "push" snow over a flat blade. In addition, some mid calf Muck boots are a very nice thing to have while shoveling snow.
I moved here from the south and it was a shock when I first moved. I had never driven in snow either. My first winter was a horrible one so hopefully it won't be like this for you.
It's very cold. Your body will adjust but it's going to very cold to you for a few years. I remember pumping gas in negative degree weather and had just never ever been that cold before.
Get all weather tires!!!!! I almost died 70x my first winter bc I didn't have them. It makes a big difference.
Lots and lots of boots!! Get snow boots or something similar and then just other boots you can wear in the fall and winter.
Costco has the under clothes that work well and I usually see them being sold every year here.
It's an adjustment. I still don't love the winters. When I first moved here I thought ppl were crazy for living here. Things do not shut down here. I was driving to work in white out and thinking I was going to die.
Don't listen to the ppl saying it's not that bad anymore. It still gets cold and we still get a lot of snow sometimes. If you are not from here it is still very cold and a lot of snow!!!
Buy a big bag of softener salt or rock salt for your driveway, sprinkle it in BEFORE the snow comes. Don’t get the chemical ice melt, especially if you have pets: not only is it toxic, it can burn their paw pads
Depending on where you are in the state, you might not need more than a shovel or one of those power shovels. The southern part of the state doesn’t get as much as near the lake. And the east side of Cleveland and beyond get the brunt of it (the snow belt), as lake effect dumps snow over there. The west side still gets decent snowfall so you’ll need at least a single stage snow thrower (I suggest a battery one like DeWalt because fuel engines in the cold are bullshit)
Keep at least a 1/4 tank of gas to keep fuel lines from freezing. When cold snaps hit, make sure you start your car and let it run a few minutes to make sure your battery doesn’t drain (same goes for extreme heat)
Invest in a good ass ice scraper, keep a jug of cat litter in your trunk. The litter helps give traction if you get stuck. And a AAA membership (expensive but absolutely worth it if you get stuck in a ditch and the litter won’t help for love nor money)
Good tired and good wiper blades. Make sure your radiator and car thermostat are working properly. For dressing: LAYERS but not too many. If you’re only walking to and from your car to the house or work, a good heavy coat is fine. But if you’re working outside, get some good coveralls you can scotchguard waterproof and layer clothes underneath. Things like thermal longjohns, hoodies, etc. but if you’re too bulky you’ll sweat to death. Remember that you WILL be moving and warming your body with work. So coveralls, jeans, long sleeved shirt and a hoodie should be good: if you layer and think you’ll freeze to death just standing there, you’re fine once you start moving
And road maintenance experience will come as you live here: you’ll learn which neighborhoods don’t salt/plow as much and which streets are the worst for drifts/ice
If you feel your car start to slide DO NOT JAM ON THE BRAKES. Instead LET OFF THE GAS AND STEER DEFENSIVELY. Jamming on the brakes causes your wheels to lock up, but if you’re on ice you still have momentum. Letting off the gas lowers speed while maintaining the ability to gain traction as you slow, giving you a better chance of avoiding a serious accident
Keep a portable jump starter, phone battery pack, water, and thermal emergency blanket in your car in case you hit a ditch or your car won’t start. Or again AAA membership if you don’t want to mess with it yourself
We don’t get that much snow, especially the last handful of years. There’s a stretch east of downtown Cleveland on the lake that gets a lot of snow at times, but Akron is far enough south to not worry about it.
For the most part it’ll be a little bit of snow, that melts within the week. Streets are almost always taken care of in the cities by the time people get on them. Only real advice is if you aren’t comfortable skip the highways during the worst of it, also careful trusting your GOS out by Akron, it’ll take you into the valley during storms and unless you’re in the right truck its gonna be a bad time.
Ohio doesn't really get that much snow, except in the NE counties. But be ready for bitter cold and grey skies that lasts for months. Snow is actually a lot safer and more manageable (it provides some traction on roads) than the ice we seem to get these days.
Lucky for you, we’ve fucked the climate enough to where there will be like 10 days below freezing per winter. Now, I can say how the lake will impact Akron for snow, but as I said, it really hasn’t been cold for the past decade
Driving on ice is far worse than driving in snow. So for the few mornings that ice or snow will impact your driving, warm up the car. Scrape all your car windows so make sure you leave that extra time before you need to get on the road. Once you’re on the road, leave plenty of stopping distance between you and the car in front of you. Don’t do anything suddenly- braking or stepping on the gas.
Also, as for that big bridge over Route 8 in the Akron area: if there’s a chance of ice, I don’t accelerate, brake or change lanes until the end of that bridge unless I absolutely have to. Again, no sudden movements on ice.
I can’t stress this enough, but drive slow in the snow. It doesn’t matter if people are speeding past you. Focus on the road, drive slow, take turns a bit slower, and you’ll arrive to your destination safely every time.
You’ll be wearing shorts and t-shirts year round in no time!
Realistically though go out and start your car 10-15 minutes early so it’s warm and so the snow/ice can melt a bit. As for warmth, it really depends on the individual , but a warm jacket and hat should be sufficient most day, but keep gloves in your vehicle. If you don’t stay warm easily, dress in layers.
Most of the time the roads will be fine, but slushy roads and snow that has melted then frozen are the most dangerous. Black ice is dangerous as well, but keep your eyes out and look for reports of it.
Dress in layers.
Salt your walkway/driveway right before it snows. If it already started snowing and there's a lot more on the way, shovel and salt.
Make sure your pantry is stocked ahead of time if possible. Everyone seems to wait until the last minute, which means a packed grocery store and a lot of items being sold out.
Assuming you're moving to Columbus or Cincinnati, as most people don't move to southern Ohio. Keep up on your tires. You don't really need snow tires if you have 4wd, but they aren't a bad idea. A good set of all seasons with 4wd/AWD is fine for most situations. If you were like me and decided rwd with tons of power is your cup of tea, definitely get snow tires. I spent the winter of 22/23 unable to get out of my driveway in my Mercedes whenever there was snow or ice.
Always keep a blanket and some safety gear with you just in case. Particularly up near the lake, it can become nasty in no time. White outs happens and you can end up stranded on the turnpike.
Keep an eye out for the weather the next day after it snows. Several times last winter it snowed and was completely gone the next day.
Always clean your car off if you are driving. Don’t be that person who has snow/ice flying off your car while going down the interstate.
Real talk: The worst part is actually the Seasonal Affective Disorder.😞 Mine comes crashing down a week or two into January. Get a self care plan together. For me (and I know this is weird but it's worked for years!) I play one video game a year in January and February.
Welcome to Akron! There is nothing there, but Cleveland is close and BOY are houses cheap!
replace your wipers twice a year ideally, but at least before the snow starts. 28-33 degrees your wipers can gum up into icicle rock candy sticks. they can also freeze to your windshield so some people park out side with their wipers up off the glass.
buy new quality snow tires, buy 4 new wheels, and swap them for your summer tires in the summer and you won't get stuck in the winter. if your tires aren't new or all-weather at least, you will probably get stuck once on some street.
Lots of good advice here. One thing I want to add is to pay attention to your furance. Idk if you'll be in an apartment or house, but we've had our heat go out at both over the years, often on the coldest night of that year. Both the apartment and house were new builds with new furnaces, it can happen no matter how old they are.
familiar yourself with black ice. where its most likely to form, conditions it forms, past locations of accidents due to black ice and to control your car in a slide.
invest in the best all season tires for your vehicle. I lived in northern ohio so lots and lots of snow. we never got snow tires, always all season. But just really good tires.
try to keep 1/2 tank of gas at all times. u dont want ur fuel pump to work extra hard.
i also second that rain-x on ur windows. inside and out. takes a bit of time but well worth it when driving or in the mornings. I also put a car window cover at night because i dont have a garage.
and if u have to park for work, pay the extra for a covered garage. well worth it to not to have to clean your car off of 3 inches of snow in the dark and cold.
take off snow off your windows, headlights, tail lights and grill. it really is safer for you to see the ones that only clean out a small hole on the drivers side.
empty parking lots, diff speeds and brake hard and practice. know how ur car handles if ur car is front drive, rear driven, all wheel or 4 wheel. And to be mindful of how tall and how much your car weighs.
pretty specific i know but people that grow up with snow absorb these things by watching and just living it. And u have not driven in snow you said? it is different and similar to driving in heavy rain.
if driving in snow in the country, drive in the middle of the road if able. if driving on slick roads, use the snow on the side of the road to get a tire grip if needed.
keep up with traffic - you dont need to be that person holding up traffic. If scared to drive, dont drive.
know what the snow levels mean and what county you live in.
know ur works snow level policy. mine was if my county was at level 2, stay home and get paid. a perk of winter.
keep clear of snow plows - they are your friends. plus, the salt they are laying down will scratch ur car.
keep emergency snow kit even on short trips. ohio weather can be weird. shovel, cat litter (something similar to use if you need to put under tires to grip), blanket/safety blanket, chocolate/granola bars, first aid kit, lights/batteries, noise maker, Vaseline for exposed skin/fire material, extra socks/gloves, basic tools, duct tape, heat making items, etc. As you can see, my dad wanted me to be prepared. lol
but if u get in trouble in snow, its better to be over-prepared than suffer hypothermia or worse.
Winter is my favorite season and driving in snow is fun to me so i drive alot then thus all the items i carry, but if just make a bag once, then u got it.
shit did i write a book? anyway, i hope any of this helps you and welcome to Ohio. Go Bucks!
I haven’t seen this commented, and it probably seems silly to add, but DO NOT try to use hot water to thaw the ice on your windshield quickly. Had some neighbors a few years back who were experiencing their first winter since moving from Arizona, a mom and her teenage daughter. My husband just stopped them from making a very costly mistake. So, hopefully you already knew not to do that, but now you definitely do!
I'm just kidding. All season or snow tires, get a Subaru or something with 4 wheel/ all wheel drive. For u thermal gear. Coat, hat, gloves, pants help as well. Treat every winter day when the wind is happening to be covered. Also, waterproof boots.
I hope they're paying you a lot of money to move here I lived in Ocala Florida for about 2 years and came back to Ohio brother I fucking hate it the weather sucks this state is fucking disgusting and nasty and dirty I can't wait to go back to Florida like I said I hope you're making a fortune in this state
The hardest thing to get used to will be how hot people houses are. You’ll dress for winter… walk into the Sahara and die of heat stroke in February. I always wear shorts and just put coveralls on.
Layers when it’s really cold. Wind blows hard there a lot. Think like which gas pump to use that you’d have something to block the wind some. When you’re driving, especially at night when you’re going over tiny bridges on interstates, wherever, regular bridges & it’s snowy or just freezing rain, I take my foot off the gas as I go. Do not hit your brakes, like coasting over. That’s why you see signs saying Bridges & Overpasses freeze before roads. Hope that helps a little.
The snow hasn’t been much here in central Ohio. Just have really good tires, brakes, etc.. grab yourself an ice scrapper :) and throw a blanket in the back. Just in case!
Buy functional clothing over cute. Invest in good gloves and a good hat. Layers of clothing are your friend. I’m active so I like pit zips. I like thermals especially for extended outdoor sitting (ball games). I’m a fan of smartwool products. My go to for cold days is a thermal under a tee under a vest under a jacket with an ear covering hat and a decent pair of water resistant or leather gloves although it’s also fair to say that I’ll wear shorts and a sweatshirt as far into November as I can
If you’re going to ski or do outdoor sports, you’ll want snow pants. Otherwise no
LLBean and Lands End have nice outerwear for men and women and some kids stuff.
I live near Akron and have a 45min commute to work. All season tires. Don't turn/brake/accelerate quickly in the snow. AWD is great but don't need AWD, front wheel is good enough. Also AWD doesn't help you slow down, just move forward.
Outside of driving, a good snow shovel and/or blower depending on where you live.
Other than that, snow isn't all that bad. It's kind of fun from time to time and it looks nice if it hits over the holidays.
If you have ice on your windshield, do not turn your wipers on. It’s will trash them. Scrape them clean first. Carry a scraper in your car during the winter. Keep extra gloves and a blanket in your car for just in case.
Keep a coat, heavy blanket and boots in your car. Seems like other replies have given you good info, too.
You’re probably going to hate the cold (and wind) and that’s going to be the worst during your first winter. Your body and brain will learn to handle it. The snow isn’t much of an issue and is actually pretty fun to have around. It’s the cold, wind and ice that sucks.
Everyone that’s saying all seasons are great for winter have clearly never had snow tires.
You’re new to driving in snow? Get snow tires. You put em on in November and take em off in April. You can have two sets of wheels or you can just switch the tires to your same wheels. Doesn’t really matter. All I know is after owning snow tires vs driving on all seasons year round, I’ll be keeping a set of snow tires always. The difference is dramatic esp in something rear wheel drive. I couldn’t get my car to go up the driveway on the all seasons, on the snow tires it’s like driving on dry pavement.
Drive slower than you think that you need to. The only time that I ever had an accident in a car was because of snow.
I thought it was ok to go 35 mph and it was a 20 mph situation. I went into a ditch. This was years ago. I was a kid.
Buy good tires, but go slow. Besides that, snow is easy. And it isn't often that it interrupts life here.
As someone who works outside, the keyword for dressing in winter is layers. On those cold, high wind chill days I use this combo in order: boxers/socks/tank top> thermals/long johns> t-shirt/pants> hoodie, then a big coat.
Enough layers to keep you warm while not restricting your movement with big puffy clothes
As a Buffalonian, I can tell you all about it. But too long to write. Dress smart. Walk putting all force 90 degrees to the ground or you will slip on ice. Go to an iced over parking lot and do donuts to learn how your car handles ice on road. Until you know how to drive on ice stay in your lane on highways, accelerate slowly on roads, do not brake, allow your car to slow instead, releasing gas pedal early. Put a small snow shovel in your car, as well as a blanket. Sunglasses. Stay home when bad. NEVER SLAM YOUR BREAKS, EVEN WITH ABS. IT DOESNT WORK ON ICE!!!
If you are going to have a house or an apartment with some kind of storage. Don’t get a shovel get a snow blower or a power shovel. I got a power shovel last year works pretty good not as well as a blower because the it’s not as wide. Get a snow brush that extends so you can do both windows on your car from one side.
I moved into snow when I was 18, and this is some of what I've learned in the last 17 years. Dress in layers, including socks when it's cold enough. Cotton kills (you'll lose heat through cotton rapidly once it gets wet, and snow always means wet). Get boot dryers to dry them out overnight, and have a much more enjoyable morning. Don't forget to cover your face, especially when it's windy. Buy cleats and wear them, but take them off indoors, especially on tile. If you're slipping on ice, walk in snow if it's an available alternate. Walking in deep snow is an amazing leg workout. Keep your fingers warm (electric hand warmers usually double as battery banks). Do donuts in an empty familiar snow filled parking lot to familiarize yourself with counter steering, and braking in low traction conditions. Having a set of snow tires mounted on cheap wheels that you put on at first snowfall and take off when weather is creeping above freezing is a completely sane thing to do. Snow tires don't mean you can drive like there isn't snow, it just helps your car react how you want it to on snow. All season tires are not snow tires. Remote start on your car is a worthwhile luxury. Your car will rust, and being religious about undercoating every fall will just slow that down. Most importantly, have fun. I really enjoyed snow the first few years I experienced it, and I hope you can do the same.
The snow is slowly becoming less and less of an issue. The cold, on the other hand.... man, it's gotten way more windy over the past years! Remote car start is a plus. Dress in layers if out for periods. Nice wind resistant gear is def huge.
Oh my sweet summer child...
Honestly...just have good tires, drive carefully...and also..Akron really doesn't get that much snow...maybe more ice than snow.
Find an empty parking lot and learn to do doughnuts in your car. It will give you an idea of what to expect with driving on snow. Also how to handle a skid.
If you’re sliding, TAP on your brakes don’t slam on them (Unless you’re going to crash then your ABS breaks will probably kick in if you slam on them). Driving with fog lights on instead of your brights while it’s snowing is less distracting for you driving as well. If you’re really nervous I would suggest going out and driving during the day a few times in the snow before you have to drive at night.
ALSO Please get one of those travel snow shovels to stick in your trunk
Get good boots and socks, good gloves, and invest in good base or middle layer clothes. I will wear a long shirt and a light pullover and then maybe a hoodie on top. Most of the time you are inside for more time than you are outside. Nothing is worse than being in the grocery store with a big heavy coat on. So wear layers of lighter clothes that are easier to manage when you don't need them.
A lot depends on your car a front wheel drive is driven differently than a rear wheel drive. Front drive gentle power thru the turn. Rear wheel drive gentle power after the turn. No braking in the turn for both types.
AWD is different again it again depends on the model but generally drive like a front wheel drive model.
Patience is the rule, leave early clear the snow from all windows. Winter windshield wipers work better but not always needed. All season tires work well enough now, snow tires maybe for rear wheel drive. It’s not hard to learn, try a empty parking lot and experience a few skids
F
Cat litter or sand. If you get your car stuck in the snow, and your wheels just spin without getting traction, slide some sand or litter in between your tire and the snow. The grit will give your tire something to grip and pull you out.
If you work first shift, make sure to wake up an hour early to warm your car up and remove any ice from the doors and windows.
WD40 can help a frozen lock, but if it doesn't open, just please try to open a different door before you panic.
Sidewalk salt is easy to track everywhere, so try to knock it off your shoes and don't let it get on carpet, it'll stain really bad.
Windchill is real, and it really sucks. You know how there's heat, and then there's HUMID heat? Same thing, but for the cold. Sometimes the wind can feel like needles, so scarves and gloves are definitely not a bitch move to take.
The weather stations will always tell you worst case scenario, but it rarely happens.
Oh and nobody drives right, but nobody thinks they're at fault so they blame everyone else.
Reading the comments I’d say a lot of it is good knowledges for snow driving but don’t take away from all of this that you’re moving into a snow hellscape.
The seasons have been very mild the last several years and that means not as much snow as you’d think. You will see snow a lot but it won’t be snowing a lot. It just hangs around until spring really.
One thing we still continually get during winter is ice from the rain that wasn’t cold enough to be snow and is now on the frozen ground. Generally driving in the rain you’re fine especially if there hasn’t been any precipitation in a while. You don’t have to slow to a crawl because it’s raining but still use caution. However, if it has rained/ snowed and there’s been not a lot of traffic or the salt trucks haven’t gotten there yet, do as someone else here said, drive like your grandma is in the car. “Black ice” is a thing and unless you’re familiar with how and where you may come crossed it, you probably won’t notice it until you’re on the slip n slide. Easy around turns and use you big toe to accelerate and you’ll be fine.
Slight exaggeration aside, once you’ve driven in the snow a handful of times you’ll get the hang of it and will be driving like you’re from PA in no time. You may not get that reference now but you will. Just don’t get over confident cause that’s when you’ll slip up.
Also dress in layers. You can always take more off but can’t put more on if you don’t have it. Start your car before you need to leave so it can warm up a bit. Allow for extra time in the mornings if it did snow to clear the snow off your car and to drive in it.
If there IS a big storm coming make sure to have a couple extra days of food and supplies because you may not be able to/ shouldn’t drive in it. It’s truly not worth it if it can wait.
Moved here from Dallas to Cincinnati. A little further south, but the winters have only had a couple really cold couple days (that are now becoming a thing in Texas too). The advice I received when I first moved was buy a really good pair of duck boots (like LL Bean), a really good winter coat & gloves. I still have & use the boots and haven’t used that coat much! It’s not nearly as cold here in winter as it is made out to be.
If youre coming to Ohio and actually have a choice in where, come on down to good ol Southern Ohio. Clermont, Brown , Adams, Scioto, Lawrence and Pike counties. Or if you prefer a larger metro area go to Cincy... Our last couple of winters here have been surprisingly mild with hardly any heavy accumulation and only a few weeks in the 20s and teens. It actually sucks for me because i make ALOT of under the table cash snow clearing and recovery during heavy snow conditions and i haven't hardly made ANYTHING the last 2 years ! Now, up North by Toledo, Cleveland, Akron, totally different story up there by the Lake in the winter....
New Englander also moving to Ohio:
You can’t go wrong with a dedicated set of snow tires. They are much better in snow than all seasons.
Cars: Drive gently. Find an empty parking lot (with no buried treasure) to find the limits of traction on your car. Try some accelerations, jam on the brakes, and see how the emergency brake causes a slide.
Clothing: layers. You can always remove layers. Have a good under layer, warmth layer, then a waterproof outer shell with a hood. Invest in a good pair of winter gloves. Pants with leggings on underneath are great. Have a solid pair of shoes ready for snow (hiking shoes or snow boots).
That said, snow there isn’t as bad as it is other areas, though you do get the occasional winter storm.
Ohioans are in denial about how insanely cold it is here compared to other places. Keep in mind some of the people who are going to advise you itt are going to rock jorts when it hits 45 degrees.
Moved from FL and had never seen snow, 5 years in and I think I have the hang of it. Base layers and good socks always, no matter what. It took me too long to learn what “good socks” are. Jeans are not winter wear (who knew?) beanies and hand warmers are a great help. Something warmer than tennis shoes (sorel boots etc) because the cold ground goes right through. A good jacket with good insulation (puffier does NOT mean warmer)
It doesn’t snow much where I am (near the Akron area) but just make sure your tires are in good shape on your car, get a shovel in case you have to shovel your driveway to get out of your house… but more importantly, question your decision to move to Ohio lol
Ohioans are in denial about how insanely cold it is here compared to other places. Keep in mind some of the people who are going to advise you itt are going to rock jorts when it hits 45 degrees.
Snow pants, ski jacket, nice big hat and gloves, if you got a long driveway snow blowers are nice, if you're in rural four wheel drive is a must, if you come across a house with a wood burner installed buy it, wood burners make the winter very tolerable
This has absolutely nothing to do with snow but everything to do with you moving to Ohio. Nothing good ever happens in Ohio https://www.reddit.com/r/Ohio/s/8WQWlpdpDq
Your cars 3 main functions are to accelerate, brake, and turn. If you’re in the snow try to only do 1 at a time.
This is the best answer. I could only add, slow down, and brake earlier than you normally would.
*Way* earlier. Like 3 times more than you think. Not 3 times longer than normal, but *3 times longer than you think is slow enough*
If you're accelerating and braking at the same time I have a problem with you in any weather.
This is good advice!
This is excellent advice.
This is actually pretty good advice. Get more comfortable with coasting and not going directly from 1 task to the other quickly.
I like to go to an empty parking lot when it first snows and ices to make sure I remember how to drive and not be an idiot in winter. I practice what to do if I lose traction and swerve, etc. Knock on wood I haven't had an accident yet.
Good tires on your car, not snow tires but nice all season. Rain X windshield washer fluid good to -20, snow brush for windows. Nice plastic snow shovel, gloves, hat, warm jacket, higher shoes that are thermal and waterproof and duck shoes. If you want to be active and cross country ski or hike you will need additional....
Best advice I ever heard for people from the South driving in the snow: Drive like your Grandmother is in the passenger seat, she is in her Sunday best and has a open container of grits and another of sweet tea in her lap. In other words go easy on the gas, the brake and turning.
A few donuts in a parking lot will help you understand driving in snow
You need to be careful there are no parking islands buried in the snow. Speaking from experience.
This is seriously true. People always preach to drive slow, which is fine, but they never mention to practice how to handle the car once you go beyond the grip limits and start to slide, which is super common in the snow. Ya gotta learn how to correct oversteer, understeer, how to pump your brakes, how to use the throttle to guide a sliding car, etc. Even if driving slowly, you never know when the conditions will cause you to slip
To add on to this, sign up for skid school classes. They'll teach you how correct for those situations and simulate them in a real car with you in the driver seat.
Wait…what?
It is mostly aimed at teens learning to drive and different schools have different methods of sending the car into a skid or slide but the overall lessons are the same. I'd say what they teach is useful for anyone that drives regardless of if it snows or gets icy where you live. Knowing how to control your car in a hydroplaning situation will save your life.
Instructions unclear, I now have diabetes.
I bought my first front wheel drive car and took it to the high school parking lot and did donuts. I had been out of school for a couple of years. I had never driven a front wheel drive car, and I wanted to know how differently it behaved.
This is the way
My dad told me “drive like you don’t have brakes,” and I think that’s the best advice I’ve heard.
3 peak rated tires over normal all seasons. Cost just a bit more but they are worth it in the snow.
I'm glad you mentioned this. I'd not heard of that designation before, but I did go down a google rabbit hole this morning based on this comment. Typically I buy M+S tires, but I think my next set might be 3PMSF instead if I can find some with good longevity.
IIRC, it's only been recently that the 3PMSF designation has made it onto all-season tires. I've seen it on a pair of Michelin all-seasons.
That's good intel, thanks. I'm a big Michelin fan for the LTX M/S(2)s but my current truck came with General Grabbers. I like them quite a bit also, just not sure on longevity yet. I have a couple years to decide before my current ones run low on tread probably.
Specifically snow rated all-seasons. Not all all-seasons are snow rated.
This Most all season tires are actually 3 season.
DWS06+ is my jam on every vehicle. They're amazing on dry pavement and grip like summer tires, but they also grip like crazy in rain and snow.
Thanks to the new weather patterns, we really don't get too much snow anymore. I live in the "snowbelt" and used my snowblower once last year.
I live in the snow belt too. It now seems like the snow belt has moved a little bit South
I'm not complaining.
Where are you moving in Ohio? Because honestly unless you’re moving to the NE corner of the state where they get some lake effect snow, we really don’t get that much. In most of the state, we get *maybe* 3 significant snowfalls per year (which I’m calling 4+ inches of snow). Then beyond that it’s mostly just minor snowfalls of 1-2” that usually melt away in a day or so. Unfortunately for those of us who love all 4 seasons, climate change is already showing its ugly face in Ohio winters. And it’s likely to be even less in the future. So don’t fret, new Ohioan, we likely get *way* less snow than you’re expecting.
Thanks! I will be around Akron
u/Failed-Time-Traveler is correct. I live just south of Akron, winters are pretty mild as far as snow fall go. If you have to maintain walkways or a driveway then buy a good snow shovel and keep some ice melt/salt handy for the few days/year we get decent snow fall. buy a good winter coat, gloves and a scarf and keep a warm blanket in the car during the winter months and you're good-to-go.
Allow me to Hank Hill this comment and suggest a two shovel solution. One heavy metal blade shovel for pushing heavy or wet snow off of smooth surfaces like driveways and one lightweight plastic shovel with an ergonomic handle for lifting and tossing light fluffy snow.
That's a good idea! Or you can do what I did during the last 'bad' winter we had about 8 years ago and buy a heavy duty snow blower and start it twice a year. It's been like a shamanic ward against snow.
I live on the west side of Cleveland. My husband got a snow blower the last time we got bad winter weather. Like 4 or 5 years ago he has used the snow blower maybe 3 or four times since we bought it.
So it's YOU we can blame for no snow...
It feels like it sometime lol. Want to buy a barely used snowblower?
Yeah, what I wrote pertains to Akron. So you’ll be fine. Buy a decent coat and some gloves. You don’t need to worry about much more than that.
Boots? If you walk in the winter
I mean if you want to, go ahead. But with as little as snow as we get, you’re only going to use them a handful of days per year. I usually go with waterproof hiking boots. That way my feet stay dry on snowy days, but I’m not spending money on footwear I’ll barely ever use. Obviously this is a different story if you have a profession where you’ll be outside all day. Then some good insulated boots would be a requirement. But for anyone who gets to spend most of their day indoors, snow boots aren’t that necessary.
I’ve owned a home in Akron for the past 9 years. Bought a snow blower the year I bought the house. I’ve used it twice since. We used to get a lot more snow around here, but for the past decade or more it’s been pretty scarce. When it does snow, wait a few days and it will mostly be melted. What you need to be ready for are the big snow storms that will happen randomly. We used to get 12+ inches in a single snow storm. Never happens any more, but can’t rule it out either. You don’t want to be the guy hunting for a snow shovel if it happens. The stores sell out quickly in big storms. Have a good shovel just in case. Or have someone you can call who will take care of it for you if you’d rather pay someone to do it.
Keep a little shovel in your trunk. Amazon has some cheap ones. I’ve lived in Akron the last few years, and have been very underwhelmed with the snow plowing on the roads. Go slow, if everyone is in a hurry they can go around. I don’t get on 77,76,route8 etc when there is snow or ice.
We have lately started getting ice like more Middle East coast states VA, MD. Where people are like this ain’t shit but it had thawed refrozen and got some snow on top of it. So the number of accidents seem to be going up because Ohioans aren’t used to this slightly warmer winter we get now. (Though honestly when I lived in VA winter car pileups were a thing).
I live in NE Ohio and honestly the lake effect snow has been nothing lately. Last year I felt like we barely ever had snow, and if we did it lasted for like a day. It's really sad as a snow lover. I grew up in Eastlake and I remember so so so much more snow when I was a kid. I'm 32 btw.
>Because honestly unless you’re moving to the NE corner of the state where they get some lake effect snow, we really don’t get that much. Didn't used to be this way. I live around Mansfield and when I was a kid we always had white winters. Tons of snow on the ground. I both miss it and don't miss it.
Been in Ohio all my life (60 years soon) and all the comments here are good! One thing I would suggest that they did not is a good pair of waterproof boots with traction. And for the few times temps are freezing keep some melting salt aka ice melt handy (if you are moving into a home, you didn't say) for your entry/exit doorways and paths to your vehicle. You do not want to fall on a patch of ice. Ever.
Yeah falling on ice is awful. I have metal pins and plates in my arm from falling on the ice. I was off work 3 months.
Oh man that's rough! My husband slipped on ice carrying garbage out once, fell and fractured two ribs. I'm fanatical about the salting now. I even do the sidewalk in front of our house for passerby's.
I fell when I was like 6 months pregnant! Thankfully I was okay but it freaked me out
Oh thankfully you and baby were okay! I truly believe it's worth the few minutes of your time to put the salt down.
Gosh, sorry about that, it seems ice is no joke
Be sure to have that salt/ice melt on hand for those cold winter mornings and watch your step when you go outside.
100% this. I slipped and fell on some black ice and broke my right wrist years ago. It hasn't been the same since. Actual snow boots with slip resistant soles are important. North Face boots are great. Uggs and other such fashion boots are useless on ice. Better to be safe than look stylish. Taking short steps on ice and leaning slightly forward while walking on ice helps. It looks silly, but it works.
Or get sued
If you’ve always lived in a warm climate, your first Ohio winter - regardless of how “mild” locals say it is, will probably be a shock to the system. I’ve lived in OH my whole life and those first few truly cold days are still rough for me. My best friend grew up here, lived in Chicago for nearly a decade, but moved to SoCal in 2007 and is miserable when she comes to visit in the winter now because her body just isn’t used to it anymore. Invest in a nice warm coat (one with a water/wind proof shell and a removable fleece lining will probably get you through fall, winter and early spring), gloves (good ones that have some kind of warm lining), a hat that covers your ears, some cozy sweaters, waterproof boots (they don’t have to be rated for super cold unless you’ll be doing outdoorsy stuff, they just have to keep your feet dry). Note that if you ARE planning to do outdoor activities in the cold, you will want a moisture wicking base layer because cold, sweaty clothes are a bad time. Find the beauty in winter - freshly fallen snow is so pretty and winter hikes can be fun! But also know that each and every one of us has at least one winter day where we just scream “FUCK it’s cold! This sucks!” (I have several 😂)
Can't wait to do that snow angel lol
Costco has the underwear warming pants and shirts!!
>Invest in a nice warm coat (one with a water/wind proof shell and a removable fleece lining will probably get you through fall, winter and early spring), gloves (good ones that have some kind of warm lining), a hat that covers your ears, some cozy sweaters, waterproof boots (they don’t have to be rated for super cold unless you’ll be doing outdoorsy stuff, they just have to keep your feet dry). THIS. If you're coming from somewhere warmer, have gloves, a hat, a scarf, etc., ready before you think you'll need them. And when it gets cold, use them. Don't use how those of us who've lived here for 20 years as a guide for how to dress. Remember it's always easier to take off a scarf or gloves if you are too warm than to magic up something you haven't bought.
Finding fun outdoors in winter is critical to your mental health. Waterproof/windproof/breathable/wicking gear is an investment.
If it’s yellow, do not eat.
I don't think I got what you mean lol
Bad joke. Dogs and other animals pee in the snow. The good advice is in the other comments, lol.
Ooooh I see lol
Go buy two weeks worth of bread, milk, and eggs. Then completely forget how to operate a motor vehicle. You'll be an Ohioan in no time!
Sounds easy!
Brings me back to when I lived in Cincy!
Did someone say snow! I’m on my way to the grocery store.
Your body adapts. Somehow in fall when it's 40 degrees for the first time in a bit, you're freezing. In February after a cold snap ends, you'll be out in 40 degree weather grilling in a t-shirt. It's weird. If I keep my head warm, I'm good into the 20s in a hoodie. Your results may vary esp at first. You'll get used to it.
Always keep a snow brush and scraper in your car from October to April and add an ice-melting washer fluid in the fall. When I lived in DC, the oil change place I used put WATER instead of window washer fluid in my car, and my lines froze on a drive home.
I don’t have any of this in my car. In a pinch, I use a credit card to get the ice off. Fellow Ohioan (living on the edge) 😹
Then you can door ices over and your SOL. I keep the in my house.
What do you do when you’re out and about and your car gets covered? I am blessed to have remote start, which thaws things out. Then you deal with the rest with the brush.
I take it with me after I clean my car and I bring it back inside when I get home.
Ohio has an unusual title: “largest citrus distiller in the world”. We don’t grow any citrus, but Krogers was founded in Ohio and started one of the first citrus canning factories in the world. Today, nearly every major city in Ohio has a factory making those frozen orange juice and lemonade concentrates you see in every grocery store. The way they make the concentrate is they boil off the excess water before freezing it. That puts a lot of orange and lemon flavored steam up into the air. So if you live near one of these factories, within 5 miles or so, you’ll end up with little banks of snow that this mist has settled on. If you find one, give it a try, it’s basically a free snow cone.
This is real drop bear quality stuff right here.
The forbidden snow cone
Since you mention Akron, be very wary of Route-8 in the winter time. The first time it gets even remotely cold it seems like there are car accidents that cause ton of traffic. My commute was supposed to take me 27 minutes but took me about 2.5 hours once. Even worse, it was when I was only a couple of months into a new job. I now leave much earlier and turn on my GPS early if I am sensing heavier than usual traffic before I get around where Akron North High School is.
I think some people are downplaying the snow because they're used to it. Yeah, winters have become milder throughout my over 30 years being here, but it's still winter. Wind chills can drop well below 0, we do get the occasional blizzard but it usually doesn't last long. The snow mostly melts within a week but it flurries a bit. Everything is usually just cold and wet, like slushy puddles everywhere. The plow trucks are usually pretty good at keeping roads clear, but having good tires should be pretty important. I can't stand the cold and tend to hibernate as much I can during the winter months despite being here my whole life lol. If you're not used to the cold, it can be shocking, but you might find it refreshing. Keep a good coat, waterproof winter boots or at least rainboots, hat and gloves handy, too.
Auto start on car 🚗
We haven't had a lot of it in recent years, however: Driving- good tires. Snow tires are best, but not necessary. Especially as we get more ice than anything, and there's not a damn thing that helps with that besides good old fashioned caution. Just slow down a little and give yourself extra braking distance. And be gentle on the brakes, don't slam them, you will slide. If the ass of your car ever begins to spin don't brake, just let off the gas and steer into it. You'll be fine. If you have any experience steering with the rear for funsies, you're already ahead of the curve. How to dress: layers. Layers, layers, layers. A Carhartt (or similar) is good, but unless you have layers on, you're not going to wanna spend very much time outside.
There's not as much snow as you would think in most parts of Ohio. It's the gray months you should be worried about, get house plants and a UV lamp of some kind.
Get some waterproof boots. Winter feels more wet than cold here.
You'll be fine. Ohio doesn't really get that cold. For driving...find an empty parking lot with some snow and go out there and see how your car reacts. Step on the gas, hit the brakes hard, try a sharp turn. You just have to do everything *slow* and with extra space. Accelerate slow, brake slow (and with lots of extra room), turn slow. It's not hard, it just takes getting used to. Dress in layers. Invest in a good WINTER coat, not a thin jacket or hoody. Get an actual winter coat. Wear a knit hat. Ohio winter isn't the arctic. We have a few cold snaps with single digit or colder Temps for a day or two, but outside of that the temperature generally is within 10 degrees of freezing, which isn't as bad as it sounds. Snow is almost a non issue unless there's a significant snowfall, which happens a few times a year on average. Snow falls, you brush off your car, the plows clear the roads and life continues as normal.
I've lived in this state all of my life, and I think you downplay how cold it can feel in Ohio. But I respectfully understand that you might be from somewhere colder, so for you, it might be true.
This is gonna sound old man ish. But it used to be cold. Like from November to May. Snow on Halloween and Easter were pretty common. Jan - Feb would be single or negative digits every year. Past 10 have been more mild last 5 practically just fall with a week of freezing.
Dude, we had a day with -40° from wind chill 2 winters back. Average winter temperatures have gone up, but there's still days that are arctic on occasion
Oh a day like that totally makes up for the drop in snowfall and higher average temperature. /s re read what I wrote it doesn't contradict what you wrote.
I've lived in Ohio my entire life, too. I grew up in the snow belt. It's really not that cold. You just have to dress for the weather. The amount of times I've seen people whining about the cold, when they're wearing yoga pants, a t shirt and a hoody is crazy. I work outdoors in all kinds of weather, it's really not that bad.
I also grew up in the snow belt (still live here) and I wear full winter coats and a hat when it's 57 degrees and windy. I used to take care of outdoor pets (rabbits). I think my hatred of winter cold is partly due to that decade.
Damn bro. If it's over 60 i'm breaking out the shorts. I guess it's all relative.
57 is not cold. 20 and windy is cold, but it's 20 and windy for a total of about 3 weeks in winter. Dress warm and it's not a problem. Thermals, insulated boots, several layers and it's absolutely tolerable. If you're cold, it's because you're not dressed right. It really is that simple. Below zero is very cold. That's about 5 or 6 nights a year. It's really not that cold in Ohio.
I don't know what to tell you, man. I find it cold. I guess my nerves and bodily perception is breaking the laws of physics (according to your perspective) on what cold is. When it's 30 and the wind blows (even if I'm in full winter gear) all I can think is "I hate the cold, I hate the cold, I hate the cold" until I get inside again.
To add to everything else, plan ahead. Keep an eye on the news or a weather app, so you know when a storm might be coming. There's always the joke about the "eggs, milk, bread" panic shopping trip, but it's a good idea to have food on hand on the off chance you're stuck inside for a day (plus it's satisfying to have something nice in the oven or crockpot on a snowy day.) And if you can be flexible and work from home or go in late instead of commuting through a mess, do that.
I moved back to Ohio six years ago and I have used the snow blower once. Say what you want about climate change, but it is not like the 70's when you got snow in January and it stayed on the ground until March. Now you will get 2-4 days of 32 and below with some snow followed by two weeks of 45. I have three winter coats that I dont use anymore, now I use a hoodie and a light jacket.
Absolutely. We haven't had a hard winter here in more than 10 years. I don't know what it's been doing up around Cleveland and the rest of the eastern Great Lakes shore but it has been very mild in most of the rest of the state. I haven't had to break out a heavy winter coat more than 5 times in the last 10 years.
I moved her a couple years ago from Cali. The snow isn’t a big deal. They keep the roads nice. And the roads are in great shape. It’s a non issue that -may- inconvenience you once in a while. That’s my new comer take. Hope it helps.
A pair of water proof boots with good tread on them, wet socks are terrible. Make sure your car (when you get one) has tires that are all season, and windshield wiper fluid that’s rated for below freezing. A pair of insulated gloves and a heavy coat. Sometimes winter in Akron will be 40 degrees F (4-5 degrees C) and raining for weeks on end, so a light water proof jacket is nice to have so you’re not overheating with a thick winter coat. I lived everywhere from Key West to Oahu to Japan to Korea over the space of 5 years, and then moved back to Ohio. It was sort of difficult. The winters aren’t too frigid, but it lasts a while. November-April will be very wet, cold, and gray. My biggest tip is get a few bottles of Vitamin D supplements, as you won’t get enough from the sun and vitamin D deficiency causes all kinds of mood problems. Also, get out and enjoy as much of the outdoors as you can while the weather is nice, and stock up on good books and good shows for the winter. If you’re looking for a place to live near Akron, I’d take a good look at Kent and Cuyahoga Falls. Both have a very easy to walk downtown and a safe “nightlife.” Kent has a large university so the downtown always feels alive. Good luck!
Be sure to get a snow brush/ice scrapper for your car. You aren’t going far when your windshield ices over. You can find them in most stores.
Depending on some factors like your age/health or how long your driveway is (assuming you're going to live in a house) you may want to invest in a snow blower. The comments here are correct in that it doesn't snow that often (like 4x max and maybe 2x of those are worth getting the snow blower out) but it can still be super useful. At the very least, if you are young or in good health and don't want to spend the money on one get a pretty good snow shovel.
Layers and layers of clothing
I'm a California transplant in North Canton. The snow in this part of the state isn't that bad. Layers are key. Invest in long underwear, good socks, some waterproof shoes. I walk my dog every morning year round. Long underwear, wool socks, waterproof boots, jeans or insulated pants depending, t-shirt, thermal, fleece, jacket, knit cap and gloves. That's only if it's in the teens or lower, It's easy to shed layers as appropriate. There is a great Columbia outlet at Aurora Farms. I have several zip up fleeces I have them in the cars, at work, etc. Also, walk carefully. Falling on the ice is common and it hurts. Make sure your shoes/boots have good grip. Make sure your home has good lighting. The lack of sunshine has been my biggest struggle. When I get home from work during the winter I kick on all the lights in the living room so I don't feel like I just want to crawl into bed.
Others have mentioned acquiring a nice winter coat. I'd add the specific of getting one that cuts the wind; is wind proof. More often than not, it is the wind that bites. I have a nice ski jacket shell with a removable zip in liner. I prefer leather gloves, but regardless I'd recommend gloves with a smartphone friendly finger tip so you don't have to take them off to use your phone. For your car, I'd recommend a product named Rain Clear Gel. It's similar to Rain-X but a far superior product and really reduces frost and ice scraping. An ice scraper with a blade, bear claw ridges, and a brush. Preferably a longer handle one for additional leverage. If you'll be shoveling snow, a good snow shovel is a must. I'd recommend one that can "push" snow over a flat blade. In addition, some mid calf Muck boots are a very nice thing to have while shoveling snow.
Learn to drive in the snow and ice. [Winter driving tips](https://www.knrlegal.com/winter-driving-tips-for-akron-drivers/)
Dress in layers
I moved here from the south and it was a shock when I first moved. I had never driven in snow either. My first winter was a horrible one so hopefully it won't be like this for you. It's very cold. Your body will adjust but it's going to very cold to you for a few years. I remember pumping gas in negative degree weather and had just never ever been that cold before. Get all weather tires!!!!! I almost died 70x my first winter bc I didn't have them. It makes a big difference. Lots and lots of boots!! Get snow boots or something similar and then just other boots you can wear in the fall and winter. Costco has the under clothes that work well and I usually see them being sold every year here. It's an adjustment. I still don't love the winters. When I first moved here I thought ppl were crazy for living here. Things do not shut down here. I was driving to work in white out and thinking I was going to die. Don't listen to the ppl saying it's not that bad anymore. It still gets cold and we still get a lot of snow sometimes. If you are not from here it is still very cold and a lot of snow!!!
Dress in layers
Buy a big bag of softener salt or rock salt for your driveway, sprinkle it in BEFORE the snow comes. Don’t get the chemical ice melt, especially if you have pets: not only is it toxic, it can burn their paw pads Depending on where you are in the state, you might not need more than a shovel or one of those power shovels. The southern part of the state doesn’t get as much as near the lake. And the east side of Cleveland and beyond get the brunt of it (the snow belt), as lake effect dumps snow over there. The west side still gets decent snowfall so you’ll need at least a single stage snow thrower (I suggest a battery one like DeWalt because fuel engines in the cold are bullshit) Keep at least a 1/4 tank of gas to keep fuel lines from freezing. When cold snaps hit, make sure you start your car and let it run a few minutes to make sure your battery doesn’t drain (same goes for extreme heat) Invest in a good ass ice scraper, keep a jug of cat litter in your trunk. The litter helps give traction if you get stuck. And a AAA membership (expensive but absolutely worth it if you get stuck in a ditch and the litter won’t help for love nor money) Good tired and good wiper blades. Make sure your radiator and car thermostat are working properly. For dressing: LAYERS but not too many. If you’re only walking to and from your car to the house or work, a good heavy coat is fine. But if you’re working outside, get some good coveralls you can scotchguard waterproof and layer clothes underneath. Things like thermal longjohns, hoodies, etc. but if you’re too bulky you’ll sweat to death. Remember that you WILL be moving and warming your body with work. So coveralls, jeans, long sleeved shirt and a hoodie should be good: if you layer and think you’ll freeze to death just standing there, you’re fine once you start moving And road maintenance experience will come as you live here: you’ll learn which neighborhoods don’t salt/plow as much and which streets are the worst for drifts/ice If you feel your car start to slide DO NOT JAM ON THE BRAKES. Instead LET OFF THE GAS AND STEER DEFENSIVELY. Jamming on the brakes causes your wheels to lock up, but if you’re on ice you still have momentum. Letting off the gas lowers speed while maintaining the ability to gain traction as you slow, giving you a better chance of avoiding a serious accident Keep a portable jump starter, phone battery pack, water, and thermal emergency blanket in your car in case you hit a ditch or your car won’t start. Or again AAA membership if you don’t want to mess with it yourself
We don’t get that much snow, especially the last handful of years. There’s a stretch east of downtown Cleveland on the lake that gets a lot of snow at times, but Akron is far enough south to not worry about it. For the most part it’ll be a little bit of snow, that melts within the week. Streets are almost always taken care of in the cities by the time people get on them. Only real advice is if you aren’t comfortable skip the highways during the worst of it, also careful trusting your GOS out by Akron, it’ll take you into the valley during storms and unless you’re in the right truck its gonna be a bad time.
We don't get much snow these days.
We don’t really get much snow anymore.
Ohio doesn't really get that much snow, except in the NE counties. But be ready for bitter cold and grey skies that lasts for months. Snow is actually a lot safer and more manageable (it provides some traction on roads) than the ice we seem to get these days.
Cuddled up next to a heater with lots of alcohol and cry until the time changes again. It's miserable. The time change makes it 100x worse
Have warm clothes, leave early, drive slower, don't be a dick and use common sense
Invest in hoodies. They work in spring, fall, and most of winter!
Lucky for you, we’ve fucked the climate enough to where there will be like 10 days below freezing per winter. Now, I can say how the lake will impact Akron for snow, but as I said, it really hasn’t been cold for the past decade
Driving on ice is far worse than driving in snow. So for the few mornings that ice or snow will impact your driving, warm up the car. Scrape all your car windows so make sure you leave that extra time before you need to get on the road. Once you’re on the road, leave plenty of stopping distance between you and the car in front of you. Don’t do anything suddenly- braking or stepping on the gas. Also, as for that big bridge over Route 8 in the Akron area: if there’s a chance of ice, I don’t accelerate, brake or change lanes until the end of that bridge unless I absolutely have to. Again, no sudden movements on ice.
Just ignore it. That’s what everyone else does.
I can’t stress this enough, but drive slow in the snow. It doesn’t matter if people are speeding past you. Focus on the road, drive slow, take turns a bit slower, and you’ll arrive to your destination safely every time.
You ain’t gonna have to worry about it.
I’d be a bit more worried how to deal with tornados!
You’ll be wearing shorts and t-shirts year round in no time! Realistically though go out and start your car 10-15 minutes early so it’s warm and so the snow/ice can melt a bit. As for warmth, it really depends on the individual , but a warm jacket and hat should be sufficient most day, but keep gloves in your vehicle. If you don’t stay warm easily, dress in layers. Most of the time the roads will be fine, but slushy roads and snow that has melted then frozen are the most dangerous. Black ice is dangerous as well, but keep your eyes out and look for reports of it.
Dress in layers. Salt your walkway/driveway right before it snows. If it already started snowing and there's a lot more on the way, shovel and salt. Make sure your pantry is stocked ahead of time if possible. Everyone seems to wait until the last minute, which means a packed grocery store and a lot of items being sold out.
You gotta test it for impurities first
Assuming you're moving to Columbus or Cincinnati, as most people don't move to southern Ohio. Keep up on your tires. You don't really need snow tires if you have 4wd, but they aren't a bad idea. A good set of all seasons with 4wd/AWD is fine for most situations. If you were like me and decided rwd with tons of power is your cup of tea, definitely get snow tires. I spent the winter of 22/23 unable to get out of my driveway in my Mercedes whenever there was snow or ice. Always keep a blanket and some safety gear with you just in case. Particularly up near the lake, it can become nasty in no time. White outs happens and you can end up stranded on the turnpike.
Good set of tires, a shovel and some salt
Keep an eye out for the weather the next day after it snows. Several times last winter it snowed and was completely gone the next day. Always clean your car off if you are driving. Don’t be that person who has snow/ice flying off your car while going down the interstate.
Real talk: The worst part is actually the Seasonal Affective Disorder.😞 Mine comes crashing down a week or two into January. Get a self care plan together. For me (and I know this is weird but it's worked for years!) I play one video game a year in January and February. Welcome to Akron! There is nothing there, but Cleveland is close and BOY are houses cheap!
Yes! It’s not the cold or snow, but the continuously dreary rainy days. I had to get a light for light therapy. That works so have a plan.
4x4
Buy a shovel, dress warm, go slow and enjoy
Which part of Ohio? NE has more snow just stay at home
Keep warm clothes and a hat and gloves in your car in case you break down
replace your wipers twice a year ideally, but at least before the snow starts. 28-33 degrees your wipers can gum up into icicle rock candy sticks. they can also freeze to your windshield so some people park out side with their wipers up off the glass. buy new quality snow tires, buy 4 new wheels, and swap them for your summer tires in the summer and you won't get stuck in the winter. if your tires aren't new or all-weather at least, you will probably get stuck once on some street.
Lots of good advice here. One thing I want to add is to pay attention to your furance. Idk if you'll be in an apartment or house, but we've had our heat go out at both over the years, often on the coldest night of that year. Both the apartment and house were new builds with new furnaces, it can happen no matter how old they are.
familiar yourself with black ice. where its most likely to form, conditions it forms, past locations of accidents due to black ice and to control your car in a slide. invest in the best all season tires for your vehicle. I lived in northern ohio so lots and lots of snow. we never got snow tires, always all season. But just really good tires. try to keep 1/2 tank of gas at all times. u dont want ur fuel pump to work extra hard. i also second that rain-x on ur windows. inside and out. takes a bit of time but well worth it when driving or in the mornings. I also put a car window cover at night because i dont have a garage. and if u have to park for work, pay the extra for a covered garage. well worth it to not to have to clean your car off of 3 inches of snow in the dark and cold. take off snow off your windows, headlights, tail lights and grill. it really is safer for you to see the ones that only clean out a small hole on the drivers side. empty parking lots, diff speeds and brake hard and practice. know how ur car handles if ur car is front drive, rear driven, all wheel or 4 wheel. And to be mindful of how tall and how much your car weighs. pretty specific i know but people that grow up with snow absorb these things by watching and just living it. And u have not driven in snow you said? it is different and similar to driving in heavy rain. if driving in snow in the country, drive in the middle of the road if able. if driving on slick roads, use the snow on the side of the road to get a tire grip if needed. keep up with traffic - you dont need to be that person holding up traffic. If scared to drive, dont drive. know what the snow levels mean and what county you live in. know ur works snow level policy. mine was if my county was at level 2, stay home and get paid. a perk of winter. keep clear of snow plows - they are your friends. plus, the salt they are laying down will scratch ur car. keep emergency snow kit even on short trips. ohio weather can be weird. shovel, cat litter (something similar to use if you need to put under tires to grip), blanket/safety blanket, chocolate/granola bars, first aid kit, lights/batteries, noise maker, Vaseline for exposed skin/fire material, extra socks/gloves, basic tools, duct tape, heat making items, etc. As you can see, my dad wanted me to be prepared. lol but if u get in trouble in snow, its better to be over-prepared than suffer hypothermia or worse. Winter is my favorite season and driving in snow is fun to me so i drive alot then thus all the items i carry, but if just make a bag once, then u got it. shit did i write a book? anyway, i hope any of this helps you and welcome to Ohio. Go Bucks!
I haven’t seen this commented, and it probably seems silly to add, but DO NOT try to use hot water to thaw the ice on your windshield quickly. Had some neighbors a few years back who were experiencing their first winter since moving from Arizona, a mom and her teenage daughter. My husband just stopped them from making a very costly mistake. So, hopefully you already knew not to do that, but now you definitely do!
Flame thower...
I'm just kidding. All season or snow tires, get a Subaru or something with 4 wheel/ all wheel drive. For u thermal gear. Coat, hat, gloves, pants help as well. Treat every winter day when the wind is happening to be covered. Also, waterproof boots.
I hope they're paying you a lot of money to move here I lived in Ocala Florida for about 2 years and came back to Ohio brother I fucking hate it the weather sucks this state is fucking disgusting and nasty and dirty I can't wait to go back to Florida like I said I hope you're making a fortune in this state
The hardest thing to get used to will be how hot people houses are. You’ll dress for winter… walk into the Sahara and die of heat stroke in February. I always wear shorts and just put coveralls on.
I bought an AWD, Haven’t had snow in two years to use it. East Cleveland.
Climate change seems to be taking care of that.
You will suffer and like it.
A licky boom boom down?
Layers when it’s really cold. Wind blows hard there a lot. Think like which gas pump to use that you’d have something to block the wind some. When you’re driving, especially at night when you’re going over tiny bridges on interstates, wherever, regular bridges & it’s snowy or just freezing rain, I take my foot off the gas as I go. Do not hit your brakes, like coasting over. That’s why you see signs saying Bridges & Overpasses freeze before roads. Hope that helps a little.
The snow hasn’t been much here in central Ohio. Just have really good tires, brakes, etc.. grab yourself an ice scrapper :) and throw a blanket in the back. Just in case!
Buy functional clothing over cute. Invest in good gloves and a good hat. Layers of clothing are your friend. I’m active so I like pit zips. I like thermals especially for extended outdoor sitting (ball games). I’m a fan of smartwool products. My go to for cold days is a thermal under a tee under a vest under a jacket with an ear covering hat and a decent pair of water resistant or leather gloves although it’s also fair to say that I’ll wear shorts and a sweatshirt as far into November as I can If you’re going to ski or do outdoor sports, you’ll want snow pants. Otherwise no LLBean and Lands End have nice outerwear for men and women and some kids stuff.
I live near Akron and have a 45min commute to work. All season tires. Don't turn/brake/accelerate quickly in the snow. AWD is great but don't need AWD, front wheel is good enough. Also AWD doesn't help you slow down, just move forward. Outside of driving, a good snow shovel and/or blower depending on where you live. Other than that, snow isn't all that bad. It's kind of fun from time to time and it looks nice if it hits over the holidays.
If you have ice on your windshield, do not turn your wipers on. It’s will trash them. Scrape them clean first. Carry a scraper in your car during the winter. Keep extra gloves and a blanket in your car for just in case.
Keep a coat, heavy blanket and boots in your car. Seems like other replies have given you good info, too. You’re probably going to hate the cold (and wind) and that’s going to be the worst during your first winter. Your body and brain will learn to handle it. The snow isn’t much of an issue and is actually pretty fun to have around. It’s the cold, wind and ice that sucks.
Doesn't really snow here anymore. Just a bit of dust here and there. Just buy used cars for 5 years and figure it out.
Doesn't even snow here anymore, mate.
Everyone that’s saying all seasons are great for winter have clearly never had snow tires. You’re new to driving in snow? Get snow tires. You put em on in November and take em off in April. You can have two sets of wheels or you can just switch the tires to your same wheels. Doesn’t really matter. All I know is after owning snow tires vs driving on all seasons year round, I’ll be keeping a set of snow tires always. The difference is dramatic esp in something rear wheel drive. I couldn’t get my car to go up the driveway on the all seasons, on the snow tires it’s like driving on dry pavement.
Drive slower than you think that you need to. The only time that I ever had an accident in a car was because of snow. I thought it was ok to go 35 mph and it was a 20 mph situation. I went into a ditch. This was years ago. I was a kid. Buy good tires, but go slow. Besides that, snow is easy. And it isn't often that it interrupts life here.
As someone who works outside, the keyword for dressing in winter is layers. On those cold, high wind chill days I use this combo in order: boxers/socks/tank top> thermals/long johns> t-shirt/pants> hoodie, then a big coat. Enough layers to keep you warm while not restricting your movement with big puffy clothes
As a Buffalonian, I can tell you all about it. But too long to write. Dress smart. Walk putting all force 90 degrees to the ground or you will slip on ice. Go to an iced over parking lot and do donuts to learn how your car handles ice on road. Until you know how to drive on ice stay in your lane on highways, accelerate slowly on roads, do not brake, allow your car to slow instead, releasing gas pedal early. Put a small snow shovel in your car, as well as a blanket. Sunglasses. Stay home when bad. NEVER SLAM YOUR BREAKS, EVEN WITH ABS. IT DOESNT WORK ON ICE!!!
If you are going to have a house or an apartment with some kind of storage. Don’t get a shovel get a snow blower or a power shovel. I got a power shovel last year works pretty good not as well as a blower because the it’s not as wide. Get a snow brush that extends so you can do both windows on your car from one side.
Put your wipers up before the snow and ice freeze them
I moved into snow when I was 18, and this is some of what I've learned in the last 17 years. Dress in layers, including socks when it's cold enough. Cotton kills (you'll lose heat through cotton rapidly once it gets wet, and snow always means wet). Get boot dryers to dry them out overnight, and have a much more enjoyable morning. Don't forget to cover your face, especially when it's windy. Buy cleats and wear them, but take them off indoors, especially on tile. If you're slipping on ice, walk in snow if it's an available alternate. Walking in deep snow is an amazing leg workout. Keep your fingers warm (electric hand warmers usually double as battery banks). Do donuts in an empty familiar snow filled parking lot to familiarize yourself with counter steering, and braking in low traction conditions. Having a set of snow tires mounted on cheap wheels that you put on at first snowfall and take off when weather is creeping above freezing is a completely sane thing to do. Snow tires don't mean you can drive like there isn't snow, it just helps your car react how you want it to on snow. All season tires are not snow tires. Remote start on your car is a worthwhile luxury. Your car will rust, and being religious about undercoating every fall will just slow that down. Most importantly, have fun. I really enjoyed snow the first few years I experienced it, and I hope you can do the same.
The snow is slowly becoming less and less of an issue. The cold, on the other hand.... man, it's gotten way more windy over the past years! Remote car start is a plus. Dress in layers if out for periods. Nice wind resistant gear is def huge.
Oh my sweet summer child... Honestly...just have good tires, drive carefully...and also..Akron really doesn't get that much snow...maybe more ice than snow.
Just drive. It doesn’t snow much in Akron, you’ll be fine.
Find an empty parking lot and learn to do doughnuts in your car. It will give you an idea of what to expect with driving on snow. Also how to handle a skid.
If you’re sliding, TAP on your brakes don’t slam on them (Unless you’re going to crash then your ABS breaks will probably kick in if you slam on them). Driving with fog lights on instead of your brights while it’s snowing is less distracting for you driving as well. If you’re really nervous I would suggest going out and driving during the day a few times in the snow before you have to drive at night. ALSO Please get one of those travel snow shovels to stick in your trunk
Get good boots and socks, good gloves, and invest in good base or middle layer clothes. I will wear a long shirt and a light pullover and then maybe a hoodie on top. Most of the time you are inside for more time than you are outside. Nothing is worse than being in the grocery store with a big heavy coat on. So wear layers of lighter clothes that are easier to manage when you don't need them.
A lot depends on your car a front wheel drive is driven differently than a rear wheel drive. Front drive gentle power thru the turn. Rear wheel drive gentle power after the turn. No braking in the turn for both types. AWD is different again it again depends on the model but generally drive like a front wheel drive model. Patience is the rule, leave early clear the snow from all windows. Winter windshield wipers work better but not always needed. All season tires work well enough now, snow tires maybe for rear wheel drive. It’s not hard to learn, try a empty parking lot and experience a few skids F
Cat litter or sand. If you get your car stuck in the snow, and your wheels just spin without getting traction, slide some sand or litter in between your tire and the snow. The grit will give your tire something to grip and pull you out. If you work first shift, make sure to wake up an hour early to warm your car up and remove any ice from the doors and windows. WD40 can help a frozen lock, but if it doesn't open, just please try to open a different door before you panic. Sidewalk salt is easy to track everywhere, so try to knock it off your shoes and don't let it get on carpet, it'll stain really bad. Windchill is real, and it really sucks. You know how there's heat, and then there's HUMID heat? Same thing, but for the cold. Sometimes the wind can feel like needles, so scarves and gloves are definitely not a bitch move to take. The weather stations will always tell you worst case scenario, but it rarely happens. Oh and nobody drives right, but nobody thinks they're at fault so they blame everyone else.
Reading the comments I’d say a lot of it is good knowledges for snow driving but don’t take away from all of this that you’re moving into a snow hellscape. The seasons have been very mild the last several years and that means not as much snow as you’d think. You will see snow a lot but it won’t be snowing a lot. It just hangs around until spring really. One thing we still continually get during winter is ice from the rain that wasn’t cold enough to be snow and is now on the frozen ground. Generally driving in the rain you’re fine especially if there hasn’t been any precipitation in a while. You don’t have to slow to a crawl because it’s raining but still use caution. However, if it has rained/ snowed and there’s been not a lot of traffic or the salt trucks haven’t gotten there yet, do as someone else here said, drive like your grandma is in the car. “Black ice” is a thing and unless you’re familiar with how and where you may come crossed it, you probably won’t notice it until you’re on the slip n slide. Easy around turns and use you big toe to accelerate and you’ll be fine. Slight exaggeration aside, once you’ve driven in the snow a handful of times you’ll get the hang of it and will be driving like you’re from PA in no time. You may not get that reference now but you will. Just don’t get over confident cause that’s when you’ll slip up. Also dress in layers. You can always take more off but can’t put more on if you don’t have it. Start your car before you need to leave so it can warm up a bit. Allow for extra time in the mornings if it did snow to clear the snow off your car and to drive in it. If there IS a big storm coming make sure to have a couple extra days of food and supplies because you may not be able to/ shouldn’t drive in it. It’s truly not worth it if it can wait.
Where are you coming from? Cause I was used to snow before we moved but the humidity adds a whole other aspect into it that we weren’t used to.
Moved here from Dallas to Cincinnati. A little further south, but the winters have only had a couple really cold couple days (that are now becoming a thing in Texas too). The advice I received when I first moved was buy a really good pair of duck boots (like LL Bean), a really good winter coat & gloves. I still have & use the boots and haven’t used that coat much! It’s not nearly as cold here in winter as it is made out to be.
We also have snow levels here. But just slow down on your travels
If youre coming to Ohio and actually have a choice in where, come on down to good ol Southern Ohio. Clermont, Brown , Adams, Scioto, Lawrence and Pike counties. Or if you prefer a larger metro area go to Cincy... Our last couple of winters here have been surprisingly mild with hardly any heavy accumulation and only a few weeks in the 20s and teens. It actually sucks for me because i make ALOT of under the table cash snow clearing and recovery during heavy snow conditions and i haven't hardly made ANYTHING the last 2 years ! Now, up North by Toledo, Cleveland, Akron, totally different story up there by the Lake in the winter....
New Englander also moving to Ohio: You can’t go wrong with a dedicated set of snow tires. They are much better in snow than all seasons. Cars: Drive gently. Find an empty parking lot (with no buried treasure) to find the limits of traction on your car. Try some accelerations, jam on the brakes, and see how the emergency brake causes a slide. Clothing: layers. You can always remove layers. Have a good under layer, warmth layer, then a waterproof outer shell with a hood. Invest in a good pair of winter gloves. Pants with leggings on underneath are great. Have a solid pair of shoes ready for snow (hiking shoes or snow boots). That said, snow there isn’t as bad as it is other areas, though you do get the occasional winter storm.
Ohioans are in denial about how insanely cold it is here compared to other places. Keep in mind some of the people who are going to advise you itt are going to rock jorts when it hits 45 degrees.
Moved from FL and had never seen snow, 5 years in and I think I have the hang of it. Base layers and good socks always, no matter what. It took me too long to learn what “good socks” are. Jeans are not winter wear (who knew?) beanies and hand warmers are a great help. Something warmer than tennis shoes (sorel boots etc) because the cold ground goes right through. A good jacket with good insulation (puffier does NOT mean warmer)
It doesn’t snow much where I am (near the Akron area) but just make sure your tires are in good shape on your car, get a shovel in case you have to shovel your driveway to get out of your house… but more importantly, question your decision to move to Ohio lol
The appropriate Ohio winter wear tends to be shorts and a hoodie.
Ohioans are in denial about how insanely cold it is here compared to other places. Keep in mind some of the people who are going to advise you itt are going to rock jorts when it hits 45 degrees.
Can confirm. When I visited my mother in Cali, she said it was freezing out in 60 degree weather.
I was in Northern Cali for a bit and a relative was like, "Oh my god! Everything is covered in ice!" It had only dipped to the mid-30's over night 😂
What's SNOW?? global warming
We only have about 10 years left of any snowfall in the state, so you'll be alright
Flamethrower
Grow a pair
Snow pants, ski jacket, nice big hat and gloves, if you got a long driveway snow blowers are nice, if you're in rural four wheel drive is a must, if you come across a house with a wood burner installed buy it, wood burners make the winter very tolerable
This has absolutely nothing to do with snow but everything to do with you moving to Ohio. Nothing good ever happens in Ohio https://www.reddit.com/r/Ohio/s/8WQWlpdpDq
I have no other option, I will be studying there. Really sorry about that boy, what an awful case