Snow in Texas? What To Do In An Unexpected Snowstorm!

It's a beautiful warm sunny day here this afternoon, but I gather somewhere in Texas it snowed today.  I learned this reading a funny post on Insanity Rules about how you can know it's colder than usual here.    One thing she mentioned was having to go out and buy gloves, which reminded me of some past snows we've experienced in Texas which we were utterly unprepared for.  And so I bring you...

TIPS FOR DRESSING FOR UNEXPECTED SNOW

And yes, save the last part, this is pretty much exactly how my kids were dressed in several snowstorms in Texas.   The last one was just me, when I forgot a boot on a trip to the mountains. 

If you can't find any warm hats, try rummaging through your Christmas decorations.  A Santa hat will do in a pinch.  No Santa hats?  You can also wrap a scarf around your head for warmth if you have one.  And even a baseball cap is better than nothing.  

If you can't find gloves, several layers of socks work like mittens (although, like mittens, they become freezing and soggy wet after being used to make a few snowballs).

Dish gloves, though not as warm, keep out the wet.  If you are willing to sacrifice a sock, you can cut off the end of the sock to make it fingerless, and layer it under a dish glove to keep the cold off your palm at least.   If you have thin knit gloves they may be able to fit under large dish gloves.

 

No snow boots?   No problem.   While regular tennis-shoes get soaked pretty quick in even mildly deep snow, there's a solution.  PLASTIC WRAP!   Before going out in the snow wrap plastic wrap over your socks sort of like you would wrap a cast to protect it when taking a bath, then put on your shoes over it.  It really works...I have TESTED this one in snow deeper than we're ever likely to get in central Texas.

In this picture (left), I am actually wearing ONE snow boot and ONE thin canvas shoe with plastic wrap in it (cause I left a boot at home when we left for the mountains...doh).  But because of plastic wrap both feet were equally warm and cozy the whole time. 

(Slipperyness is a whole 'nother issue....and I don't have a good solution for that one, save for scattering kitty litter on your walk). 

HOW TO DE-ICE YOUR CAR

Texifornian blogger A Dash of Sarah wrote another great post about the snow too...in which she mentioned her momentary panic at seeing her car covered in it. Having grown up in the California mountains, I know a thing or two about getting ice off a car...I was helping my mom de-ice the car before I could even drive. So, for those who've never had to do that...here's some tips:

1. If the snow is nice and powdery its easy to brush off.  If it's wet those dish gloves may come in handy.  You only will have a problem if it's snow that's gotten wet and then frozen.  Then the tips below will help.
   
   
2. If your car is covered in ice, it pays to sit in your car for a while with the engine running to warm it up--your car will drive better and it may make de-icing your car easier.  Or you can leave your car running while you set at trying to tackle the ice.
   
   
3. If you don't have a car scraper, you can use a credit card to scrape frost off your window and rear-view mirrors.  A plastic spatula works too.   If it's a thick layer you may need to do some hacking (A credit card won't help too much here.  The edge of a plastic scraper is ideal--the edge of a hairbrush can sometimes work too.  Sometimes all it takes is a firm pound of your fist to break it up.  But if you're getting nowhere with these, refer to step 2.).
   
   
4. DO NOT just clear off the window and drive with a big slab of ice on top of your roof...because at some point your car is going to warm up and it will start to melt and that big ole slab will either go crashing into the car behind you, or come crashing down your windshield when you stop, blocking your view. 

Of course, taking that car out on the road is another matter.  For best practices for driving in snow, this page by Car and Drive will help.  Of course, if possible just stay home.   Enjoy the snow while it lasts.  Stay safe out there!  


(Thanks to Tamari 09 on Flickr for the use of the Santa hat.  I couldn't find the picture of my kiddo decked in a Santa hat in the snow so was very grateful for the substitute.  )

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