How do I weather?
November 11, 2014 8:49 PM Subscribe
I live in the Seattle area this year after spending pretty much my entire life in southern California. It's been proper chilly for the first time this week and I think I'm already feeling a bit out of my depth. Give me your Pacific Northwest winter protips!
Seriously, pretend I have never even heard of winter. This question was prompted by getting into my office this morning and seeing they had salted the sidewalk (presumably because it froze overnight, right?) and having the delighted reaction, "Oh, I've read about this!" Yup.
I've never seen it snow. I've never driven in snow or hail, and never driven on icy roads. To be completely honest, before I moved here I had only driven in rain a handful of times. I have a Subaru Outback. I have two dogs and a toddler and I own my house. I feel like there's a lot of "common sense" stuff that I've never been exposed to, and I'm not sure what are even the right questions to ask. I found this question and this one - both really helpful but I think a little extreme for Seattle winter, right? My parents are Californians too, so they're no help. What is going to trip me up in the next couple of months?
So far I have the following specific questions:
- How do you put a child into a car seat with a thick jacket on? It seems unsafe. But if I take her jacket off to put her in, she gets pretty cold, especially if it's wet or the car is cold inside.
- Do my wimpy, sun-loving labradors need any sort of weather gear? I know I've seen things like boots and jackets for dogs in hilarious YouTube videos, but I figure those are for colder places, right?
- What kinds of things do you do as a homeowner to prepare for winter? How do you manage your thermostat?
- Do I need some manner of snow shovel?
- Any driving tips? Happily I don't have to do too much driving, but I live on a narrow street in a somewhat hilly suburban neighborhood.
- What kinds of products and items can you not do without in the winter?
I hear that Seattle winter is actually pretty tame as winters go! But let me reiterate that I have never seen it snow. I am but a simple California transplant and your "weather" frightens and confuses me. I need all the help I can get.
Seriously, pretend I have never even heard of winter. This question was prompted by getting into my office this morning and seeing they had salted the sidewalk (presumably because it froze overnight, right?) and having the delighted reaction, "Oh, I've read about this!" Yup.
I've never seen it snow. I've never driven in snow or hail, and never driven on icy roads. To be completely honest, before I moved here I had only driven in rain a handful of times. I have a Subaru Outback. I have two dogs and a toddler and I own my house. I feel like there's a lot of "common sense" stuff that I've never been exposed to, and I'm not sure what are even the right questions to ask. I found this question and this one - both really helpful but I think a little extreme for Seattle winter, right? My parents are Californians too, so they're no help. What is going to trip me up in the next couple of months?
So far I have the following specific questions:
- How do you put a child into a car seat with a thick jacket on? It seems unsafe. But if I take her jacket off to put her in, she gets pretty cold, especially if it's wet or the car is cold inside.
- Do my wimpy, sun-loving labradors need any sort of weather gear? I know I've seen things like boots and jackets for dogs in hilarious YouTube videos, but I figure those are for colder places, right?
- What kinds of things do you do as a homeowner to prepare for winter? How do you manage your thermostat?
- Do I need some manner of snow shovel?
- Any driving tips? Happily I don't have to do too much driving, but I live on a narrow street in a somewhat hilly suburban neighborhood.
- What kinds of products and items can you not do without in the winter?
I hear that Seattle winter is actually pretty tame as winters go! But let me reiterate that I have never seen it snow. I am but a simple California transplant and your "weather" frightens and confuses me. I need all the help I can get.
I totally agree with avoiding driving if it snows AT ALL. I grew up in a very snowy area, and learned to drive in snow and ice. I am an excellent winter driver, if I do say so myself. But when I lived in Seattle, I avoided it at all costs. I one time had a commute that, no joke, took five hours from downtown Seattle to the Eastside because there was a dusting of snow, and so many people were spun out all over the freeways. I also lived in a hilly suburb on a street that rarely got plowed (and got very little sunlight due to the tall trees). In the years I lived there, I not only saw the UPS truck get stuck, but the freaking FIRE DEPARTMENT. Yes, there was a fire truck that went down my street (a dead end) and was unable to get back up because of the ice. Another reason I wouldn't drive in the snow there if I didn't have to.
Also, be prepared for power outages. They aren't super frequent, but with huge trees that get weighed down with ice and snow, they do happen. We had one that lasted several days. It got down to about 40 degrees in our house. Not fun.
posted by primethyme at 9:04 PM on November 11, 2014 [3 favorites]
Also, be prepared for power outages. They aren't super frequent, but with huge trees that get weighed down with ice and snow, they do happen. We had one that lasted several days. It got down to about 40 degrees in our house. Not fun.
posted by primethyme at 9:04 PM on November 11, 2014 [3 favorites]
You can and maybe should get winter tires for your car. They will grip in the snow instead of spinning. Snow or ice on a hill can be downright scary. Driving in snow is a new skill you need to learn. Fortunately it rarely snows in Seattle, but you might get caught in it. Also make sure your wiper fluid is topped up because you use it constantly when it snows. And if you filled it up in California, you might need to replace it. In colder climates the fluid comes with antifreeze mixed in.
It has been chilly here in Vancouver, and you can expect it to get colder in winter, but not by a lot. It's most of the way there already. Mostly it will be a damp cold just above freezing, and the challenge will be staying dry. Good waterproof outer layers are the key, preferably with nice thick sweaters underneath.
posted by PercussivePaul at 9:14 PM on November 11, 2014
It has been chilly here in Vancouver, and you can expect it to get colder in winter, but not by a lot. It's most of the way there already. Mostly it will be a damp cold just above freezing, and the challenge will be staying dry. Good waterproof outer layers are the key, preferably with nice thick sweaters underneath.
posted by PercussivePaul at 9:14 PM on November 11, 2014
Do my wimpy, sun-loving labradors need any sort of weather gear? I know I've seen things like boots and jackets for dogs in hilarious YouTube videos, but I figure those are for colder places, right?
They might want sweaters. I usually make my dog wear her sweater if it's cold and rainy and leave it off if it's just cold. If your dogs are walking anywhere that's been salted in the winter, rinse their feet off when they get home.
What kinds of products and items can you not do without in the winter?
Rain-X helps a lot with visibility when you're driving and it's easy to apply to your car. If it snows and the roads get salted, take your car to the carwash once the weather improves to get the salt off of it.
Wool socks and sweaters are good in our climate -- the wool stays warm even in the damp. Smartwool socks are a little pricy but they last. Seriously, a wool sweater layer is like a superpower.
Waterproof shoes are good for the winter. REI will have options with goretex, for example.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 9:16 PM on November 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
They might want sweaters. I usually make my dog wear her sweater if it's cold and rainy and leave it off if it's just cold. If your dogs are walking anywhere that's been salted in the winter, rinse their feet off when they get home.
What kinds of products and items can you not do without in the winter?
Rain-X helps a lot with visibility when you're driving and it's easy to apply to your car. If it snows and the roads get salted, take your car to the carwash once the weather improves to get the salt off of it.
Wool socks and sweaters are good in our climate -- the wool stays warm even in the damp. Smartwool socks are a little pricy but they last. Seriously, a wool sweater layer is like a superpower.
Waterproof shoes are good for the winter. REI will have options with goretex, for example.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 9:16 PM on November 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
I am also a Californian who moved to Seattle. We moved in 2013, so we've seen an entire winter. Suggestions:
-Definitely a winter hat and gloves.
-For work I bought wool socks from Costco.
-My wife bought socks for herself from Sock Dreams. Free shipping until the end of the month!
-There's a reason everyone in Seattle seems to have a waterproof North Face jacket. Look into one.
-Do you have wellies for your toddler? You should, so that when it does snow she can run around outside.
-For our toddler we layer with a sweater and then a light-ish jacket, plus a hat and mittens. When I put him in a car seat, I take off the jacket. If it's really cold, I put a blanket on him after buckling him into the car seat.
-I bought waterproof shoes because I take public transit to work, and have to walk a lot outside.
-I don't own a snow shovel. I bought one of those ice scraper/snow brush things from the hardware store and used it once last year.
-When it snows, DON'T DRIVE. Even if you feel confident in your ability to drive, everyone else out there is going to be sliding around and clogging up traffic. Just stay home. Work from home if you have to work. The snow is going to melt in a day or two anyway.
-We set our thermostat to 64 in the day, around 60 at night (after we go to sleep). We have a programmable thermostat, so we can have it automatically change temperature setpoints according to the pre-programmed preferences.
-You have a car, make sure to get a jug of windshield wiper fluid with antifreeze from the hardware store. You don't want to find out the hard way that your wiper fluid froze. And if it's freezing out, don't use your wiper sprayer to try to wash off the frost from your windshield. Guess who did that last year and had to spend 20 minutes scraping ice off his windshield.
Welcome to Seattle!
posted by zompus at 9:18 PM on November 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
-Definitely a winter hat and gloves.
-For work I bought wool socks from Costco.
-My wife bought socks for herself from Sock Dreams. Free shipping until the end of the month!
-There's a reason everyone in Seattle seems to have a waterproof North Face jacket. Look into one.
-Do you have wellies for your toddler? You should, so that when it does snow she can run around outside.
-For our toddler we layer with a sweater and then a light-ish jacket, plus a hat and mittens. When I put him in a car seat, I take off the jacket. If it's really cold, I put a blanket on him after buckling him into the car seat.
-I bought waterproof shoes because I take public transit to work, and have to walk a lot outside.
-I don't own a snow shovel. I bought one of those ice scraper/snow brush things from the hardware store and used it once last year.
-When it snows, DON'T DRIVE. Even if you feel confident in your ability to drive, everyone else out there is going to be sliding around and clogging up traffic. Just stay home. Work from home if you have to work. The snow is going to melt in a day or two anyway.
-We set our thermostat to 64 in the day, around 60 at night (after we go to sleep). We have a programmable thermostat, so we can have it automatically change temperature setpoints according to the pre-programmed preferences.
-You have a car, make sure to get a jug of windshield wiper fluid with antifreeze from the hardware store. You don't want to find out the hard way that your wiper fluid froze. And if it's freezing out, don't use your wiper sprayer to try to wash off the frost from your windshield. Guess who did that last year and had to spend 20 minutes scraping ice off his windshield.
Welcome to Seattle!
posted by zompus at 9:18 PM on November 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Nthing the warning not to try to drive in the snow in Seattle, as another person from somewhere with "real" winter - it doesn't snow often in Seattle, but it gets nasty when it does.
Really, the key to winter in Seattle is staying dry. Invest in clothing intended to keep you dry: waterproof shoes, wool socks, a good rain jacket (maybe one with a fleece insert or room for a fleece jacket underneath), wool hat. Lots of wool, fleece, and gore-tex - now you know why everyone dresses like that in Seattle! If you don't want to wear a rain jacket every day, buy a nice lightweight wool coat/jacket - this will actually suffice for most of the winter when you'll experience more drizzly weather than hard rain.
As for the dogs, just watch them and see how they do with the cold. Labs are pretty hardy but I think it tends to vary by dog.
posted by lunasol at 9:25 PM on November 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Really, the key to winter in Seattle is staying dry. Invest in clothing intended to keep you dry: waterproof shoes, wool socks, a good rain jacket (maybe one with a fleece insert or room for a fleece jacket underneath), wool hat. Lots of wool, fleece, and gore-tex - now you know why everyone dresses like that in Seattle! If you don't want to wear a rain jacket every day, buy a nice lightweight wool coat/jacket - this will actually suffice for most of the winter when you'll experience more drizzly weather than hard rain.
As for the dogs, just watch them and see how they do with the cold. Labs are pretty hardy but I think it tends to vary by dog.
posted by lunasol at 9:25 PM on November 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Here's the thing. People outside of the Pacific NW assume that because we are so far north that we must get snow ALL THE TIME. We don't, at least not in the Seattle area. Winters here are, like, in the 50s and rainy and gloomy but that's mostly it for the season, minus a random freak snow flurry here and there.
What all that means is, no one here is really prepared for the snow. Even people who have lived here for years! We just don't deal with it often enough to know how to drive in it, work around it, or dress for it. So you won't really be out of place if you go out and there's snow, but you should probably not go out at all because, well, other people don't know how to drive in it or deal with it. It's exhausting.
The main things you want are the same things you'll want for a non-snowy Seattle winter: waterproof outdoor layers like a rain jacket and boots with a good tread. You may want to add in some long underwear to layer under your normal clothes if it's extra cold. Get a hat and some gloves. Get a shovel if you want, but honestly, I have one and have only used it once in the last 6 years because generally when it snows it doesn't last long enough to really need to dig out.
Honestly, I think my best piece of advice is to find some nearby spots you can walk to for food, drink and entertainment from your home. It's especially fun to sit in a bar/restaurant on a main drag and watch other Seattlites try to walk or drive in the snow.
But above all else, stay off the damn roads!
posted by joan_holloway at 9:26 PM on November 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
What all that means is, no one here is really prepared for the snow. Even people who have lived here for years! We just don't deal with it often enough to know how to drive in it, work around it, or dress for it. So you won't really be out of place if you go out and there's snow, but you should probably not go out at all because, well, other people don't know how to drive in it or deal with it. It's exhausting.
The main things you want are the same things you'll want for a non-snowy Seattle winter: waterproof outdoor layers like a rain jacket and boots with a good tread. You may want to add in some long underwear to layer under your normal clothes if it's extra cold. Get a hat and some gloves. Get a shovel if you want, but honestly, I have one and have only used it once in the last 6 years because generally when it snows it doesn't last long enough to really need to dig out.
Honestly, I think my best piece of advice is to find some nearby spots you can walk to for food, drink and entertainment from your home. It's especially fun to sit in a bar/restaurant on a main drag and watch other Seattlites try to walk or drive in the snow.
But above all else, stay off the damn roads!
posted by joan_holloway at 9:26 PM on November 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
Buy a snow shovel. Buy a bag of ice. Buy a couple of bundles of wood if you have a fireplace. Buy them now. You may not have to use any of those, but every couple of years there will be a big snowstorm, you will need all those things, and if you try to buy them on Dec. 22 everywhere will be sold out. The wood is for when the power goes out for 3 days. Have a cast iron skillet on hand, put it in the fireplace for warmth if necessary.
If you are living in a drafty older house, you can buy special plastic shrink wrap for your windows that will help keep the warm air in.
For the car seat, your seat probably has an adjustable strap in front. Put her in, buckle her up, grab the adjusting strap, and PULL - that will push down the fluffy coat.
If you walk outside a lot, you may want to wear leggings or tights under your pants for warmth.
Buy an ice scraper with a long brush. If it snows, brush all the snow off the top of your car before you start driving, or it will slide forward and cover your windshield five minutes down the road. Leave the house five minutes early so you can run the engine full blast and warm up the car and get rid of the condensation on the windows. A towel or two in the car to wipe off your side mirrors will come in handy.
posted by bq at 9:32 PM on November 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
If you are living in a drafty older house, you can buy special plastic shrink wrap for your windows that will help keep the warm air in.
For the car seat, your seat probably has an adjustable strap in front. Put her in, buckle her up, grab the adjusting strap, and PULL - that will push down the fluffy coat.
If you walk outside a lot, you may want to wear leggings or tights under your pants for warmth.
Buy an ice scraper with a long brush. If it snows, brush all the snow off the top of your car before you start driving, or it will slide forward and cover your windshield five minutes down the road. Leave the house five minutes early so you can run the engine full blast and warm up the car and get rid of the condensation on the windows. A towel or two in the car to wipe off your side mirrors will come in handy.
posted by bq at 9:32 PM on November 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
I'm going to nth not going out in any form of vehicle in the snow. It's not just that nobody can drive in it, though we can't, it's also that there are steep hills basically everywhere. Even the buses have scary accidents.
You want a jacket with a hood, wool layers, warm waterproof boots...layers. All the layers. It generally just rains cold misery until Aprilish, but snow does happen a little. Honestly you probably won't be expected anywhere if we get more than a couple of inches, so your main winter priority is only letting your outer layers get drenched and keeping warm in 35-50 degree weather in the next 5-6 months. Don't bother with umbrellas by the way. It's usually too windy.
posted by zinful at 9:54 PM on November 11, 2014
You want a jacket with a hood, wool layers, warm waterproof boots...layers. All the layers. It generally just rains cold misery until Aprilish, but snow does happen a little. Honestly you probably won't be expected anywhere if we get more than a couple of inches, so your main winter priority is only letting your outer layers get drenched and keeping warm in 35-50 degree weather in the next 5-6 months. Don't bother with umbrellas by the way. It's usually too windy.
posted by zinful at 9:54 PM on November 11, 2014
Realise that wiper fluid does not go far in winter, there is a lot of damp and spray water and you will be using a lot of the stuff. Have some with you at all times so you can top up at work for example if you find your reservoir is empty on the way to work.
Also realise that your headlights, too, get covered in the same dirty spray water that causes you to use so much viper fluid and clean them regularly, even if you don't clean the rest of your car...it's amazing how much more effective they are when they are not covered with dirt.
Salt can hurt your dogs' paws so check them regularly if your walks take you on salted paths.
posted by koahiatamadl at 9:57 PM on November 11, 2014
Also realise that your headlights, too, get covered in the same dirty spray water that causes you to use so much viper fluid and clean them regularly, even if you don't clean the rest of your car...it's amazing how much more effective they are when they are not covered with dirt.
Salt can hurt your dogs' paws so check them regularly if your walks take you on salted paths.
posted by koahiatamadl at 9:57 PM on November 11, 2014
Speaking of wiper fluid, you may not know that you need special winter wiper fluid so it doesn't freeze.
posted by bq at 10:10 PM on November 11, 2014
posted by bq at 10:10 PM on November 11, 2014
Don't forget to wipe your wiper blades clean with a paper towel every few days. Get some yaktraks for your shoes to make it easier to walk around when it's icy. Above all don't join the clueless masses on the freeways when it snows!!
posted by monotreme at 10:56 PM on November 11, 2014
posted by monotreme at 10:56 PM on November 11, 2014
Speaking of wiper fluid, you may not know that you need special winter wiper fluid so it doesn't freeze.
It very rarely gets below freezing in Seattle — even up to Vancouver, BC. Just about any wiper fluid you get short of a jug of water will work fine.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 11:01 PM on November 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
It very rarely gets below freezing in Seattle — even up to Vancouver, BC. Just about any wiper fluid you get short of a jug of water will work fine.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 11:01 PM on November 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Whoa ... wish you lived down the block. There's going to be a bit of a learning curve, and you'll need some help. Everybody is responding to Snow-in-Seattle, because it's rare and screws things up and we all get twitchy. But your comment "I've only driven in rain a handful of times" is much more important. When rain is pouring down (it sometimes does), don't drive faster than you feel comfortable. Leave plenty of room between you and the car ahead of you. Make sure your windshield wipers are in good condition; replace them as soon as they aren't working so well. Try not to drive through large puddles on the road. If you have to, try not to brake while you're in the water. If the puddle is deep, you may be hydroplaning -- that is, your wheels will not be in contact with the road. Just let the weight and momentum carry you through the water. I don't know if this is actually true, but I learned to tap my brakes lightly a couple of times after driving through water, to "dry them off."
One of the most difficult things to deal with in a Seattle winter is the lack of light. Psychologically, getting to work at 9 a.m. in the dark and coming home at 5p.m. in the dark can be pretty grim. But also, it makes it harder to see while you're driving, and harder to be seen when you're crossing the road. (But it's not all grim: the weather can make home or a coffee shop or even the grocery store so very COZY. Revel in cozy.)
I'd be surprised if your Labs need anything special. Salty feet are rare; even if someone has salted, odds are that the subsequent drizzle will have dissolved it. Now large wet dogs coming into your house will need some sort of mat/towel routine, but you'll figure that out soon enough.
Re clothes: Mr K chimes in with "a waterproof shell!" A waterproof jacket is great for hiking, but sweaters, vests, etc topped by a waterproof shell is much more useful around town. And often the shell is all you need, even in the depths of winter, because it doesn't get real cold very often. Hats, gloves, scarves are also welcome.
Personally, we keep the heat at 68 when we're home, and turn it off completely at night. A couple of space heaters in rooms you'd like warmer are a godsend. Vornado is a great product.
Best advice: get to know your neighbors. Introduce yourself in the same charming way you started this thread; ask for their advice. Especially about your house, since there are so many variables. And then when there are problems, hopefully at least a couple of your neighbors will be glad to help.
The Pacific Northwest is a wonderful place to live -- welcome! (And it's even better if there are family members in Southern California whom you can visit regularly.)
***A note: when we moved from San Francisco to Seattle years ago, in November, I was dumbstruck when I noticed the people across the street left their front door open occasionally. I was damp and chilled all the time. The next year, as I was baking for Thanksgiving, I kept throwing the door open to get a little fresh air. I had become my neighbors. You will, too.
posted by kestralwing at 11:03 PM on November 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
One of the most difficult things to deal with in a Seattle winter is the lack of light. Psychologically, getting to work at 9 a.m. in the dark and coming home at 5p.m. in the dark can be pretty grim. But also, it makes it harder to see while you're driving, and harder to be seen when you're crossing the road. (But it's not all grim: the weather can make home or a coffee shop or even the grocery store so very COZY. Revel in cozy.)
I'd be surprised if your Labs need anything special. Salty feet are rare; even if someone has salted, odds are that the subsequent drizzle will have dissolved it. Now large wet dogs coming into your house will need some sort of mat/towel routine, but you'll figure that out soon enough.
Re clothes: Mr K chimes in with "a waterproof shell!" A waterproof jacket is great for hiking, but sweaters, vests, etc topped by a waterproof shell is much more useful around town. And often the shell is all you need, even in the depths of winter, because it doesn't get real cold very often. Hats, gloves, scarves are also welcome.
Personally, we keep the heat at 68 when we're home, and turn it off completely at night. A couple of space heaters in rooms you'd like warmer are a godsend. Vornado is a great product.
Best advice: get to know your neighbors. Introduce yourself in the same charming way you started this thread; ask for their advice. Especially about your house, since there are so many variables. And then when there are problems, hopefully at least a couple of your neighbors will be glad to help.
The Pacific Northwest is a wonderful place to live -- welcome! (And it's even better if there are family members in Southern California whom you can visit regularly.)
***A note: when we moved from San Francisco to Seattle years ago, in November, I was dumbstruck when I noticed the people across the street left their front door open occasionally. I was damp and chilled all the time. The next year, as I was baking for Thanksgiving, I kept throwing the door open to get a little fresh air. I had become my neighbors. You will, too.
posted by kestralwing at 11:03 PM on November 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
Your dog does not need boots or a sweater, but a towel by the door is handy for drying them after rainy walks. On the rare occasion it snows in Seattle, wipe their paws well when coming back inside.
Waterproof shoes and wool socks really can't be emphasized enough. If you hate the gore-tex and fleece look, you can get away with layering other fabrics, but keeping your feet dry is crucial to PNW winter happiness. That said, you don't need snow boots. Brands like Merrill and Teva make boots that keep your feet dry without a lot of furry bits or huge tread. Again, if it does snow, it will only be for a few days, and you really don't need to organize your life around that.
I have a lot of things with hoods, as well. They are great for always having a head covering with you, since it's probably going to rain soon.
If you are a lady who wears tighter clothes and looking into long underwear tops or similar base layers, having thumb holes in the sleeves makes it easy to keep everything in place while piling on the layers. On that note, v-neck is better than crew neck so that it isn't visible under more fashionable clothing. But even on days when a full base layer is not practical, a tank top under the rest of your clothes makes a huge difference. Cotton is fine, but merino wool is amazing.
Also, an extra layer under your pants is great for keeping dry. Again, merino wool is the best, but anything lightweight that keeps your legs protected from a potentially-wet outer layer is key.
Snow tires probably aren't necessary unless you go on a lot of trips to the mountains. They aren't needed in the rain, and put more wear and tear into the roads when used needlessly. If you absolutely need to go somewhere in your car when it snows, get chains. It seems a little silly to put chains on your tires in the city, but Seattle isn't as prepared as the midwest and can't maintain the roads. However, keep in mind this is what happens on the steep hills when it snows in Portland. If you are feeling like your Outback's tires aren't good enough, focus on optimizing them for rain and wet rather than snow.
If you live in an older house, things like plastic on the windows do help with drafts. If you have pets who are likely to rip that down, or just don't like the way it looks, you can get thicker lined curtains and draft blockers as an alternative.
People argue about whether it makes more sense to turn your thermostat cold at night and have it rev all morning to bring the house back to a comfortable level, or whether it's best to keep it a constant temperature. It ultimately depends on how cold you get while you sleep.
If you have any hoses connected outside your house, disconnect them now so they won't be there if a sudden cold snap comes in.
posted by ohisee at 11:05 PM on November 11, 2014
Waterproof shoes and wool socks really can't be emphasized enough. If you hate the gore-tex and fleece look, you can get away with layering other fabrics, but keeping your feet dry is crucial to PNW winter happiness. That said, you don't need snow boots. Brands like Merrill and Teva make boots that keep your feet dry without a lot of furry bits or huge tread. Again, if it does snow, it will only be for a few days, and you really don't need to organize your life around that.
I have a lot of things with hoods, as well. They are great for always having a head covering with you, since it's probably going to rain soon.
If you are a lady who wears tighter clothes and looking into long underwear tops or similar base layers, having thumb holes in the sleeves makes it easy to keep everything in place while piling on the layers. On that note, v-neck is better than crew neck so that it isn't visible under more fashionable clothing. But even on days when a full base layer is not practical, a tank top under the rest of your clothes makes a huge difference. Cotton is fine, but merino wool is amazing.
Also, an extra layer under your pants is great for keeping dry. Again, merino wool is the best, but anything lightweight that keeps your legs protected from a potentially-wet outer layer is key.
Snow tires probably aren't necessary unless you go on a lot of trips to the mountains. They aren't needed in the rain, and put more wear and tear into the roads when used needlessly. If you absolutely need to go somewhere in your car when it snows, get chains. It seems a little silly to put chains on your tires in the city, but Seattle isn't as prepared as the midwest and can't maintain the roads. However, keep in mind this is what happens on the steep hills when it snows in Portland. If you are feeling like your Outback's tires aren't good enough, focus on optimizing them for rain and wet rather than snow.
If you live in an older house, things like plastic on the windows do help with drafts. If you have pets who are likely to rip that down, or just don't like the way it looks, you can get thicker lined curtains and draft blockers as an alternative.
People argue about whether it makes more sense to turn your thermostat cold at night and have it rev all morning to bring the house back to a comfortable level, or whether it's best to keep it a constant temperature. It ultimately depends on how cold you get while you sleep.
If you have any hoses connected outside your house, disconnect them now so they won't be there if a sudden cold snap comes in.
posted by ohisee at 11:05 PM on November 11, 2014
It very rarely gets below freezing in Seattle — even up to Vancouver, BC. Just about any wiper fluid you get short of a jug of water will work fine.
But some folks I know who grew up in mild climates think that water is wiper fluid. It's worth being explicit that using water isn't a good idea in freezing conditions.
I think that it's not recommended to wear bulky winter coats in car seats. You do have to remove them and use a blanket or something draped over.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 11:14 PM on November 11, 2014
You will need a good ice scraper for the car. Even if you don't drive in the snow, and I echo the sentiments of others on here that you probably shouldn't -- on chilly mornings or even on cold nights, the condensation will freeze to your windshield and you'll need to scrape. I have one like this -- scraper on one side, a brush to brush away all the ice you've scraped on the other.
One thing to note too, about the snow. You might be thinking "Well, it's all very well and good to say don't drive in the snow, but how will I get to work? I can't take days and days off work because of snow." We tend to have snow for about a day, and then the rain comes and washes it away. So don't worry about getting snowed in or anything.
For clothing, learn to layer. A good fleece vest is your friend. Long sleeved shirt under a hoodie that you can discard if the sun pops out for a little while. You'll want warm shoes or boots too, and I recommend a few pairs of thick Thorlo socks.
If your dogs are labs they will probably be fine in the weather after a little adjustment period. Sweaters and booties are a bit more for the thin-coated doggies like greyhounds and some of the smaller breeds, or more extreme weather than we have here. If you have to take them for walks in the snow, you'll want Yak Tracks.
You've probably noticed how dark it's gotten. When we get sunbreaks, like we've had this week, get outside and get vitamin D! I have some pretty bad mood swings in the winter time, I actually invested in a natural spectrum light to make it through the grey and dark winter, came very much in handy last week when we made the switch to Standard Daylight time. You don't need to rush right out and get one of those, only if you start to find yourself feeling a little down about the depressing weather.
Welcome to the Pacific Northwest!
posted by stennieville at 11:14 PM on November 11, 2014
One thing to note too, about the snow. You might be thinking "Well, it's all very well and good to say don't drive in the snow, but how will I get to work? I can't take days and days off work because of snow." We tend to have snow for about a day, and then the rain comes and washes it away. So don't worry about getting snowed in or anything.
For clothing, learn to layer. A good fleece vest is your friend. Long sleeved shirt under a hoodie that you can discard if the sun pops out for a little while. You'll want warm shoes or boots too, and I recommend a few pairs of thick Thorlo socks.
If your dogs are labs they will probably be fine in the weather after a little adjustment period. Sweaters and booties are a bit more for the thin-coated doggies like greyhounds and some of the smaller breeds, or more extreme weather than we have here. If you have to take them for walks in the snow, you'll want Yak Tracks.
You've probably noticed how dark it's gotten. When we get sunbreaks, like we've had this week, get outside and get vitamin D! I have some pretty bad mood swings in the winter time, I actually invested in a natural spectrum light to make it through the grey and dark winter, came very much in handy last week when we made the switch to Standard Daylight time. You don't need to rush right out and get one of those, only if you start to find yourself feeling a little down about the depressing weather.
Welcome to the Pacific Northwest!
posted by stennieville at 11:14 PM on November 11, 2014
You really want good socks. The clothing recommendations in this thread are good, and if you have the time and money you should buy all the layers. But if you can't buy it all, socks need to make the cut. Warm and dry feet will make the rest of the rain easier to handle. (This is also a good time of year to check your shoes for holes. Even a teensy little hole in the sole will let water in like a funnel. So unpleasant.)
There are a few days each winter where it gets cold enough to warrant long underwear. Not a top priority, but so wonderful on those days when it dips below freezing.
I can't say that your labradors need rain gear, but the labs I've known have appreciated it. If nothing else, the rain gear makes them less wet when they come inside. And speaking of coming inside: The grass your toddlers are playing in will saturate with rain water and become a muddy mess. Do you have a good place in your home for them to take off wet & muddy outer layers? (If you haven't already, you're about to see why most homes have a no shoes in the house rule.)
And you asked about thermostats: Is your question here how to stay warm while not spending a fortune? You can get an adjustable thermostat that automatically turns down the temperature during the day & night times. They're relatively cheap, and straightforward to install yourself. If your house is drafty, you can install weather stripping to keep the cold air out.
Maybe have a technician give your furnace a maintenance tune-up. It'll help the furnace run more efficiently, and you'll have a heads up about possible problems. (The first winter after I bought my place, the furnace died a few days after Christmas. I had no heat, and guests visiting from out of town.)
posted by Banknote of the year at 12:55 AM on November 12, 2014
There are a few days each winter where it gets cold enough to warrant long underwear. Not a top priority, but so wonderful on those days when it dips below freezing.
I can't say that your labradors need rain gear, but the labs I've known have appreciated it. If nothing else, the rain gear makes them less wet when they come inside. And speaking of coming inside: The grass your toddlers are playing in will saturate with rain water and become a muddy mess. Do you have a good place in your home for them to take off wet & muddy outer layers? (If you haven't already, you're about to see why most homes have a no shoes in the house rule.)
And you asked about thermostats: Is your question here how to stay warm while not spending a fortune? You can get an adjustable thermostat that automatically turns down the temperature during the day & night times. They're relatively cheap, and straightforward to install yourself. If your house is drafty, you can install weather stripping to keep the cold air out.
Maybe have a technician give your furnace a maintenance tune-up. It'll help the furnace run more efficiently, and you'll have a heads up about possible problems. (The first winter after I bought my place, the furnace died a few days after Christmas. I had no heat, and guests visiting from out of town.)
posted by Banknote of the year at 12:55 AM on November 12, 2014
With regards to the light issue - I found that making sure I went for a quick afternoon walk every day for even 10-15 minutes helped a lot. Even when it's overcast and rainy it's a lot better than nothing. If you don't get SAD this is less necessary, but you probably don't know if you do or not yet, and that was one of the things that helps me head it off at the pass.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 1:01 AM on November 12, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Jon Mitchell at 1:01 AM on November 12, 2014 [3 favorites]
Your labs have a double coat and were bred to hunt waterfowl.
posted by brujita at 5:10 AM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by brujita at 5:10 AM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
As someone who grew up in New Orleans, then spent a decade in Los Angeles, and now lives in Seattle: GET A FULL SPECTRUM LAMP. You will get mopey and depressed and lethargic and you will not know why and it will be because you need a lot more sun than you are getting. Up until this point in your life, "the sun" has not ever been something you could have a lack of; if anything, the problem has been occasionally getting too much of it.
Also start taking vitamin D. Every day.
I don't drive, have a kid, or own a home, so I have no tips in those arenas.
My clothing in winter is much the same as it is in the summer, with the addition of leggings (especially ones with crazy patterns printed on them) and a couple of coats - a light one for fall, and one fur-lined one for winter.
Also you will want to start wearing either hoodies or hats; it's very common to have just enough drizzle to want to keep water off your head, but not enough to actually want to hassle with an umbrella. Personally I much prefer hats as I'm a stylish lady and hoodies are kind of the exact opposite of stylish IMHO, but whatever works with your fashion sense and keeps the drizzle off.
As to snow, don't sweat it. I've been living here for a few years now and the pattern is obvious: it snows like one or two days, and the city kinda shuts down. Nobody here really knows how to drive in the snow either. (I lived in Boston for five years, and that was miserable. Half the year the whole city was covered in snow. I hid under the covers as much as possible. I really can't recommend it for another child of a place where it's Always Summer.)
posted by egypturnash at 7:24 AM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also start taking vitamin D. Every day.
I don't drive, have a kid, or own a home, so I have no tips in those arenas.
My clothing in winter is much the same as it is in the summer, with the addition of leggings (especially ones with crazy patterns printed on them) and a couple of coats - a light one for fall, and one fur-lined one for winter.
Also you will want to start wearing either hoodies or hats; it's very common to have just enough drizzle to want to keep water off your head, but not enough to actually want to hassle with an umbrella. Personally I much prefer hats as I'm a stylish lady and hoodies are kind of the exact opposite of stylish IMHO, but whatever works with your fashion sense and keeps the drizzle off.
As to snow, don't sweat it. I've been living here for a few years now and the pattern is obvious: it snows like one or two days, and the city kinda shuts down. Nobody here really knows how to drive in the snow either. (I lived in Boston for five years, and that was miserable. Half the year the whole city was covered in snow. I hid under the covers as much as possible. I really can't recommend it for another child of a place where it's Always Summer.)
posted by egypturnash at 7:24 AM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
The kid in the carseat - the coat compresses. Adjust the straps so it fits properly over them. If you've got a really bulky coat that they can't move in, and they're toddlers, you might want to re-think the next coat - those super puffy ones you can't move in aren't usually the warmest ones anyway, just the most annoying. Think layers. And for younger kids, or any older ones who will tolerate it - blankets are lovely, and it's a good idea to have a couple in the car anyway. Also, if you're really not sure of the carseat buckling situation, and want someone else to put their eyes on it, stop by and chat with whoever your local carseat experts are - the hospital or a new parent helpline can probably send you in the right direction.
The dogs - even if they're outside, make sure they always have access to water and a safe location where they can be dry and out of the wind. Other than that, they're probably good. Don't be surprised if they're not thrilled with the weather at first... and don't be surprised - since you have labs - if it's hard to get them to stop playing in the snow once they get used to it! Keep dog-towels near their outside door. If they don't seem to want to shake before they come in, sometimes taking your hand and "wiggling" back and forth across their shoulder blades will get them to do it... I've had success teaching dogs to shake off water on command by doing this and telling them to shake.
Driving Please don't assume your Subaru means you know how to drive - or are prepared to drive - in snow or ice. Stay home if possible, and if you MUST go out, go much, much, MUCH slower than the posted speed limits. Assume if there are temperatures at 40-ish that there may be spots of black ice and proceed with caution, especially on bridges and overpasses. And my recommendation? If you do get a good snow with a few inches on the ground, get someone who is comfortable driving in the snow to take you out, have them find a spot that's relatively flat with little sanding, no stops for a space, and no traffic - in my area, a rural area or a wide main street in a flat residential area late at night works perfect. A very large parking lot might also work. Get up to 10-15, and HIT THE BRAKES so you can see what it feels like when you slide. Practice this a few times. This is the single most effective method I know of for getting people a bit more used to driving in the snow - and making things a bit safer for all of us.
In case the power goes out If you have a fireplace, even if you don't use it, have a few armloads of wood on hand and make sure the chimney is clean and you have a CO detector. Matches or a lighter, too. Have flashlights and a couple days worth of batteries on hand, and make sure they're easy to get to in the dark. Have a stash of non-perishable food that's easy to prepare - we like a camp stove and canned stuff for this. Store a can opener with it. If you have a pellet stove for heat, a backup battery or two is super nice - they don't really last long.
Snow and ice - Get some salt, but go easy on it if you have surfaces it can damage. Cat litter - the cheap, not the clumping - kind is something we use far more often when it's icy, since we're not allowed to use ice in our rental. Yes, you want a snow shovel, and they're cheap. Buy it now, before they're gone. Metal scoop is better for ice, though those all yellow, heavy plastic ones work ok for most purposes, too. Buy one now, before they're gone. Chances are, you'd never use a snow blower. Most of the snow we get is too wet. Ditto on sleds... if you want them for the kids, buy them now - the stores won't restock.
The vehicles should all have ice-scrapers and snow-brushes in them. Don't store it in the garage, you want it in the car. Lock de-icer is nice to have on hand before you need it. Do yourself a favor and give yourself some extra time the first time you have to go somewhere and the temperature has been down in the 20s... some locks just don't like it, even if they haven't gotten wet. Make sure you have good wiper blades. I second the RainX the windows - the regular yellow kind - but don't waste the time with the interior de-fog stuff that comes in the black bottle. I've never heard of it working for anyone. Consider RainX wiper fluid. It won't RainX the car for you, but it'll reduce how often you have to reapply. If you don't know how much of the fluid in your radiator is antifreeze and how much is water, you might want to add some antifreeze.
Heating the house - You've already gotten good recommendations about this, so I'll just add - if you're desperate for a quick fix, and the whole shrink plastic nonsense just is too much, the regular plastic sheeting and cheap masking tape work just as well, provided you have walls that won't be damaged with it. And in my experience, it's one heck of a lot faster. We usually keep the heat on 65 for daytime, and turn it down at night, and just add layers if we need to. Since you're used to warmer temps, if the heating bill is any concern, pay attention to this.
Playing in the snow - Layers. Preferably NON-cotton ones. Any synthetics or wool will work, it doesn't have to be the fancy kind used for skiing and camping. Fleece pajama pants, in multiple layers, made my kids just as happy - and were easier to move around in - than those puffy snowpants. Getting wet makes you cold, and soaked clothes cut the fun short. If you don't normally have any non-cotton socks, splurge on one pair for you and maybe the little one. I've come to prefer (even in the snow) rain boots with good warm socks, because then my feet are warm and dry, over "snow" boots that eventually soak through. My teen boys, however, have spent time snow-camping on the mountain, and I'm assured spendy snow boots trump that in comfort, but I see no need to spend the $$ on myself.
posted by stormyteal at 7:32 AM on November 12, 2014
The dogs - even if they're outside, make sure they always have access to water and a safe location where they can be dry and out of the wind. Other than that, they're probably good. Don't be surprised if they're not thrilled with the weather at first... and don't be surprised - since you have labs - if it's hard to get them to stop playing in the snow once they get used to it! Keep dog-towels near their outside door. If they don't seem to want to shake before they come in, sometimes taking your hand and "wiggling" back and forth across their shoulder blades will get them to do it... I've had success teaching dogs to shake off water on command by doing this and telling them to shake.
Driving Please don't assume your Subaru means you know how to drive - or are prepared to drive - in snow or ice. Stay home if possible, and if you MUST go out, go much, much, MUCH slower than the posted speed limits. Assume if there are temperatures at 40-ish that there may be spots of black ice and proceed with caution, especially on bridges and overpasses. And my recommendation? If you do get a good snow with a few inches on the ground, get someone who is comfortable driving in the snow to take you out, have them find a spot that's relatively flat with little sanding, no stops for a space, and no traffic - in my area, a rural area or a wide main street in a flat residential area late at night works perfect. A very large parking lot might also work. Get up to 10-15, and HIT THE BRAKES so you can see what it feels like when you slide. Practice this a few times. This is the single most effective method I know of for getting people a bit more used to driving in the snow - and making things a bit safer for all of us.
In case the power goes out If you have a fireplace, even if you don't use it, have a few armloads of wood on hand and make sure the chimney is clean and you have a CO detector. Matches or a lighter, too. Have flashlights and a couple days worth of batteries on hand, and make sure they're easy to get to in the dark. Have a stash of non-perishable food that's easy to prepare - we like a camp stove and canned stuff for this. Store a can opener with it. If you have a pellet stove for heat, a backup battery or two is super nice - they don't really last long.
Snow and ice - Get some salt, but go easy on it if you have surfaces it can damage. Cat litter - the cheap, not the clumping - kind is something we use far more often when it's icy, since we're not allowed to use ice in our rental. Yes, you want a snow shovel, and they're cheap. Buy it now, before they're gone. Metal scoop is better for ice, though those all yellow, heavy plastic ones work ok for most purposes, too. Buy one now, before they're gone. Chances are, you'd never use a snow blower. Most of the snow we get is too wet. Ditto on sleds... if you want them for the kids, buy them now - the stores won't restock.
The vehicles should all have ice-scrapers and snow-brushes in them. Don't store it in the garage, you want it in the car. Lock de-icer is nice to have on hand before you need it. Do yourself a favor and give yourself some extra time the first time you have to go somewhere and the temperature has been down in the 20s... some locks just don't like it, even if they haven't gotten wet. Make sure you have good wiper blades. I second the RainX the windows - the regular yellow kind - but don't waste the time with the interior de-fog stuff that comes in the black bottle. I've never heard of it working for anyone. Consider RainX wiper fluid. It won't RainX the car for you, but it'll reduce how often you have to reapply. If you don't know how much of the fluid in your radiator is antifreeze and how much is water, you might want to add some antifreeze.
Heating the house - You've already gotten good recommendations about this, so I'll just add - if you're desperate for a quick fix, and the whole shrink plastic nonsense just is too much, the regular plastic sheeting and cheap masking tape work just as well, provided you have walls that won't be damaged with it. And in my experience, it's one heck of a lot faster. We usually keep the heat on 65 for daytime, and turn it down at night, and just add layers if we need to. Since you're used to warmer temps, if the heating bill is any concern, pay attention to this.
Playing in the snow - Layers. Preferably NON-cotton ones. Any synthetics or wool will work, it doesn't have to be the fancy kind used for skiing and camping. Fleece pajama pants, in multiple layers, made my kids just as happy - and were easier to move around in - than those puffy snowpants. Getting wet makes you cold, and soaked clothes cut the fun short. If you don't normally have any non-cotton socks, splurge on one pair for you and maybe the little one. I've come to prefer (even in the snow) rain boots with good warm socks, because then my feet are warm and dry, over "snow" boots that eventually soak through. My teen boys, however, have spent time snow-camping on the mountain, and I'm assured spendy snow boots trump that in comfort, but I see no need to spend the $$ on myself.
posted by stormyteal at 7:32 AM on November 12, 2014
Tons of great advice already! Since you say that you own your own home, do you have any outdoor faucets? Now is the time of year to detach garden hoses and use insulated faucet covers for water taps that are outside. This will prevent pipes freezing and potentially bursting. You can get the covers at any hardware store. You want to do this before our next big freeze where we have several days of below-freezing temps, which WILL happen..it's way more likely than snow.
posted by Maude_the_destroyer at 9:06 AM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Maude_the_destroyer at 9:06 AM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
I never put a coat on my kid if we're just going from a building to the car. I do keep a blanket in the car to cover the kid up if he wants it; but it's really never cold enough to actually be dangerous or anything, so just let the kid be cold for a few minutes, until the car warms up. It's just not worth putting on the coat just to take it back off in the car. Usually, actually, I don't even put a coat on my kid -- just layers: long sleeve shirt, flannel shirt or thin sweater, hoodie on top.
Not only should you not drive if it's snowy or icy, but if you would need to take a bus to get where you're going, just give up and stay home. I once took the bus from Queen Anne to the U -- normally a 20-minute ride -- and it took two hours. EACH WAY. And I was freezing and soaking wet from the knees down all day. Just don't do it. Stay home.
Programmable thermostats are the shit. 65-70 when you're home and awake, 59 when you're out or asleep.
Your dogs will be fine. I've owned dogs in the PNW for 15 years and they've never had any winter gear.
A snow shovel might not be bad to own. Get a scraper/brush combo and leave it in your car. Also, a sled! When it snows, and you stay home because it's not worth going anywhere, find a hill nearby to sled down instead.
Rain gear is more useful than snow gear: waterproof shoes/boots, waterproof jacket with a hood. Buy the jacket a little big so you can put a couple layers underneath.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:15 AM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
Not only should you not drive if it's snowy or icy, but if you would need to take a bus to get where you're going, just give up and stay home. I once took the bus from Queen Anne to the U -- normally a 20-minute ride -- and it took two hours. EACH WAY. And I was freezing and soaking wet from the knees down all day. Just don't do it. Stay home.
Programmable thermostats are the shit. 65-70 when you're home and awake, 59 when you're out or asleep.
Your dogs will be fine. I've owned dogs in the PNW for 15 years and they've never had any winter gear.
A snow shovel might not be bad to own. Get a scraper/brush combo and leave it in your car. Also, a sled! When it snows, and you stay home because it's not worth going anywhere, find a hill nearby to sled down instead.
Rain gear is more useful than snow gear: waterproof shoes/boots, waterproof jacket with a hood. Buy the jacket a little big so you can put a couple layers underneath.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:15 AM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
With driving in the rain:
- It takes around 3-7 times as far to stop in the rain as it does in dry conditions
- Always have your lights on when driving in rainy conditions. It makes it easier to see other cars
- Your windows will fog up. I found that it is worth keeping the inside of your windows clean: it makes it easier to defog well.
- Take it easy, take it slow, and stay off the road when you are not feeling comfortable.
- Good tires help
- I was always taught to squeeze the brakes gently after going through a big puddle.
Keep a blanket in the car. If nothing else, it makes your seat feel much warmer if it is a cold day.
And for the cold: layers! Lots of layers make a bigger impact than one think layer.
Also n-thing the recommendation for an outer shell. I wear mine with a fleece under it, and it keeps me warm in cool weather.
posted by troytroy at 10:12 AM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
- It takes around 3-7 times as far to stop in the rain as it does in dry conditions
- Always have your lights on when driving in rainy conditions. It makes it easier to see other cars
- Your windows will fog up. I found that it is worth keeping the inside of your windows clean: it makes it easier to defog well.
- Take it easy, take it slow, and stay off the road when you are not feeling comfortable.
- Good tires help
- I was always taught to squeeze the brakes gently after going through a big puddle.
Keep a blanket in the car. If nothing else, it makes your seat feel much warmer if it is a cold day.
And for the cold: layers! Lots of layers make a bigger impact than one think layer.
Also n-thing the recommendation for an outer shell. I wear mine with a fleece under it, and it keeps me warm in cool weather.
posted by troytroy at 10:12 AM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
Do not put a child in a car seat with a winter coat on, it is really unsafe. If you can fit them in there without loosening the straps at all, go ahead, but that would likely be uncomfortable. You can put them in a sweater or lighter jacket (like a fleece zip up) for the car ride, or just warm up the car before putting them in it. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2012/12/winter-coats-and-car-seats-keeping-your-child-safe-and-warm/index.htm
Keep an ice scraper in your car, you will use it a lot. Keep a snow shovel in your garage, you will use it maybe twice a year. Same with road salt if you want it. Drain and keep your hoses in the garage, and insulate the faucets. If it gets REALLY cold, open the sink cupboards to get warmer air to the pipes, and turn less frequently used faucets on at a drip to discourage your pipes from freezing. If there is snow on the road, avoid driving if at all possible - even if you're a competent snow driver - because Seattle roads are an absolute DISASTER in the snow. Be aware of the possibility of black ice.
posted by Safiya at 11:07 AM on November 12, 2014
Keep an ice scraper in your car, you will use it a lot. Keep a snow shovel in your garage, you will use it maybe twice a year. Same with road salt if you want it. Drain and keep your hoses in the garage, and insulate the faucets. If it gets REALLY cold, open the sink cupboards to get warmer air to the pipes, and turn less frequently used faucets on at a drip to discourage your pipes from freezing. If there is snow on the road, avoid driving if at all possible - even if you're a competent snow driver - because Seattle roads are an absolute DISASTER in the snow. Be aware of the possibility of black ice.
posted by Safiya at 11:07 AM on November 12, 2014
You want a Bundleme for the car seat. Infant or toddler size depending on the size of the kiddo/car seat. It's like a little sleeping bag, allows them to be buckled safely into the car seat with a warm layer of fleece (around the outside of the straps), with a weather-resistant outside, and they can't kick it off like a blanket. It can also wrap around them in the stroller.
Really recommend an ice scraper with a warm mitt--makes it so much more comfortable!
Disconnect any hoses from the outside faucets for the winter, and cover the spigots with a spigot cover. These are easy, effective, and only a few bucks at Lowes or Home Depot.
Our house is very well insulated, and we still have to drip the cold water faucets very slowly overnight when the weather is below freezing.
Good luck!
posted by reksb at 11:36 AM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
Really recommend an ice scraper with a warm mitt--makes it so much more comfortable!
Disconnect any hoses from the outside faucets for the winter, and cover the spigots with a spigot cover. These are easy, effective, and only a few bucks at Lowes or Home Depot.
Our house is very well insulated, and we still have to drip the cold water faucets very slowly overnight when the weather is below freezing.
Good luck!
posted by reksb at 11:36 AM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
Re: putting a heavy coat on a child and then sticking them in a car seat? Do not EVER do this. Fastening a car seat harness over a bulky coat means that the harness is not snugly fitting the child's body, which defeats the entire purpose of putting them in a protective device like a car seat in the first place. This site gives a great breakdown as to why big bulky coats are terrible for car seat safety, and offers alternate suggestions for keeping kids warm in the car.
As for dealing with Seattle weather yourself, nthing the suggestions to get a full spectrum lamp, take extra vitamin D, and keep your feet dry/wear layers. Light layers are the key to dressing for Seattle weather, in all seasons. I'd provide more concrete advice there but I think you've been pretty well-served on that front already. Welcome to the PNW! It's probably not going to be as grim as you're expecting!
posted by palomar at 11:38 AM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
As for dealing with Seattle weather yourself, nthing the suggestions to get a full spectrum lamp, take extra vitamin D, and keep your feet dry/wear layers. Light layers are the key to dressing for Seattle weather, in all seasons. I'd provide more concrete advice there but I think you've been pretty well-served on that front already. Welcome to the PNW! It's probably not going to be as grim as you're expecting!
posted by palomar at 11:38 AM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
I grew up in Houston, TX and am about to spend my 20th winter in Seattle. Here is what I have learned.
* The snow thing is no joke. Seattle's geography and weather combine to make freeze-condition driving exceptionally dangerous; we have a freeze/thaw cycle, where the temps come up far enough during the day to melt the top layer of the snow or ice, and then it refreezes at night. It's like the whole city has a daily Zamboni. Combine this with our frequent, steep hills, and it's not just that we don't know how to drive in the snow (although we don't). It's really a completely different snow and ice situation than you get in, say, Chicago.
* It is uncommon for it to get truly cold for more than 24 hours. I mean, it'll happen every year, but not for very long. Our "holy fuck it is so fucking cold" temperatures are in the mid-twenties Farenheit; last year we had a couple of days at 17 and I thought I was going to die. More commonly, we have a freeze overnight and then it gets up to 35-40 during the day.
* Sunny weather is cold weather. Grey weather is comparatively warm. The clouds act like a blanket and keep the heat in. Days like today (sunny and hovering around freezing) are the exception; what's common is for it to be grey, drizzly, and about 35-45 degrees.
* That sun lamp is really not going to be optional for you. I am not kidding. After 20 years here, I still need to spend some time under sun lamps occasionally; you will need it acutely. In the depths of winter, we have less than 8 hours of even putative sunlight. The mountains to the east and west cut that by about 45 minutes to an hour. We are so far north that the sun never gets that high in the sky -- we are farther north than Boston, Maine, and Toronto. The evergreen trees create a lot of shade when deciduous trees would have dropped their leaves. And then the unending rain means that the sun doesn't really come out, the sky just goes from black to grey.
* Wool socks. Get them at costco, the 4-pack for 10.
* The wet is as much or more of an enemy than the cold. As someone said above, there's a reason everyone here has fleece-lined goretex.
* we set the thermostat for 68 when people are home or awake and 62 when they aren't. Before we had kids, we had it at 50 overnight, but that stopped when the babies came.
Feel free to memail me with more specific questions!
posted by KathrynT at 11:39 AM on November 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
* The snow thing is no joke. Seattle's geography and weather combine to make freeze-condition driving exceptionally dangerous; we have a freeze/thaw cycle, where the temps come up far enough during the day to melt the top layer of the snow or ice, and then it refreezes at night. It's like the whole city has a daily Zamboni. Combine this with our frequent, steep hills, and it's not just that we don't know how to drive in the snow (although we don't). It's really a completely different snow and ice situation than you get in, say, Chicago.
* It is uncommon for it to get truly cold for more than 24 hours. I mean, it'll happen every year, but not for very long. Our "holy fuck it is so fucking cold" temperatures are in the mid-twenties Farenheit; last year we had a couple of days at 17 and I thought I was going to die. More commonly, we have a freeze overnight and then it gets up to 35-40 during the day.
* Sunny weather is cold weather. Grey weather is comparatively warm. The clouds act like a blanket and keep the heat in. Days like today (sunny and hovering around freezing) are the exception; what's common is for it to be grey, drizzly, and about 35-45 degrees.
* That sun lamp is really not going to be optional for you. I am not kidding. After 20 years here, I still need to spend some time under sun lamps occasionally; you will need it acutely. In the depths of winter, we have less than 8 hours of even putative sunlight. The mountains to the east and west cut that by about 45 minutes to an hour. We are so far north that the sun never gets that high in the sky -- we are farther north than Boston, Maine, and Toronto. The evergreen trees create a lot of shade when deciduous trees would have dropped their leaves. And then the unending rain means that the sun doesn't really come out, the sky just goes from black to grey.
* Wool socks. Get them at costco, the 4-pack for 10.
* The wet is as much or more of an enemy than the cold. As someone said above, there's a reason everyone here has fleece-lined goretex.
* we set the thermostat for 68 when people are home or awake and 62 when they aren't. Before we had kids, we had it at 50 overnight, but that stopped when the babies came.
Feel free to memail me with more specific questions!
posted by KathrynT at 11:39 AM on November 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
You need a boot and mitten dryer. I like this one.
It's weird how many people here don't have rain pants. You should have rain pants, your toddler should have rain pants. I've found good ones at REI, L.L. Bean, and Lands End, but probably there are cheaper ones out there.
Blinky lights and reflective vests for everyone when you're out at night -- so, basically, any time after 4:30. I use clip-on bike lights for myself and my kids. They make blinky lights that clip on to dog collars, and those are good for clipping on to toddlers, backpacks, strollers, zipper pulls, etc.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:28 PM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
It's weird how many people here don't have rain pants. You should have rain pants, your toddler should have rain pants. I've found good ones at REI, L.L. Bean, and Lands End, but probably there are cheaper ones out there.
Blinky lights and reflective vests for everyone when you're out at night -- so, basically, any time after 4:30. I use clip-on bike lights for myself and my kids. They make blinky lights that clip on to dog collars, and those are good for clipping on to toddlers, backpacks, strollers, zipper pulls, etc.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:28 PM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
Oh, and I just plain don't drive when it's snowy. The roads aren't plowed, people are stupid, it's all too horrible. Drag your kid on a sled if you need to get to the store. But it's not unusual for us to not get any snow at all, all winter long.
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:30 PM on November 12, 2014
posted by The corpse in the library at 1:30 PM on November 12, 2014
One problem with the roads was that we had a mayor who wouldn't salt them, because we're surrounded by large bodies of water and the salty runoff goes straight into Puget Sound, killing off freshwater life. Makes sense in the big picture, right? But that mayor was subsequently voted out after a blizzard in late 2008 locked people in for more than a few days. We haven't had blizzard-like conditions since, so it's hard to tell what the current mayor would do during similar weather, though due to political history we will probably salt the earth. In any case, Seattle city natives are horrible drivers even under the best of conditions (sorry, it's true), so basically when there's a snow coming, stock up on supplies for a couple days and work from home.
posted by a lungful of dragon at 4:24 PM on November 12, 2014
posted by a lungful of dragon at 4:24 PM on November 12, 2014
If you have a driveway and sidewalk, buy a snow shovel now. Snow shovels are difficult to find on the day of the first snowstorm of the year.
You may have learned - or heard - to pump the brakes when stopping on ice. In a modern car, this is wrong. Antilock brakes do the pumping for you. Practice this in a parking lot or something the first time it snows. Get going ~20 MPH and push the brake down hard. It should vibrate under your foot. This is the car pumping the brakes for you. It's an unusual sensation, and quite surprising if you're not expecting it.
posted by Hatashran at 4:33 PM on November 12, 2014
You may have learned - or heard - to pump the brakes when stopping on ice. In a modern car, this is wrong. Antilock brakes do the pumping for you. Practice this in a parking lot or something the first time it snows. Get going ~20 MPH and push the brake down hard. It should vibrate under your foot. This is the car pumping the brakes for you. It's an unusual sensation, and quite surprising if you're not expecting it.
posted by Hatashran at 4:33 PM on November 12, 2014
So here are a few more things that you didn't specifically ask about, but that might not be common sense to someone from warm climates. (I have no idea what it's like to be Californian...)
Layers aren't just for your clothes; layer your sheets and blankets, too. I have a thick down comforter on top, with several layers of fleece and cotton underneath. Add or remove layers as needed. And I don't know if flannel sheets really are warmer, but they sure feel nice and cozy.
Always carry lip balm. Your lips and skin will dry out, even with all the moisture.
Closing your curtains or blinds helps keep heat inside. (One can even buy curtains with extra insulation, but that's probably overboard for your first winter.) During the day, I usually prefer the extra sunlight to the energy savings; at night, close 'em up.
Eat hearty food. There's nothing like piping hot food in your tummy to help you warm up. This is a good time for stews, curries, heavy beans, etc. Some of my favourites are Mexican nacho pizza and spicy peanut and eggplant stew. See also the AskMe threads here, and here.
Have hot drinks on hand for the little ones. I was a fan of hot apple cider when I was growing up; hot cocoa or hot Tang are also nice.
posted by Banknote of the year at 5:43 PM on November 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
Layers aren't just for your clothes; layer your sheets and blankets, too. I have a thick down comforter on top, with several layers of fleece and cotton underneath. Add or remove layers as needed. And I don't know if flannel sheets really are warmer, but they sure feel nice and cozy.
Always carry lip balm. Your lips and skin will dry out, even with all the moisture.
Closing your curtains or blinds helps keep heat inside. (One can even buy curtains with extra insulation, but that's probably overboard for your first winter.) During the day, I usually prefer the extra sunlight to the energy savings; at night, close 'em up.
Eat hearty food. There's nothing like piping hot food in your tummy to help you warm up. This is a good time for stews, curries, heavy beans, etc. Some of my favourites are Mexican nacho pizza and spicy peanut and eggplant stew. See also the AskMe threads here, and here.
Have hot drinks on hand for the little ones. I was a fan of hot apple cider when I was growing up; hot cocoa or hot Tang are also nice.
posted by Banknote of the year at 5:43 PM on November 12, 2014 [2 favorites]
I hate Rain X. It leaves film on your windshield, just replace your wiper blades manually, keep your wiper fluid full, and use a wiper-fluid mix that can handle ~20F without freezing.
You've heard about dressing in layers. Its a good thing. At least one layer should be polarfleece or similar, that stuff + breathable waterproof fabrics are probably the last late-20th century inventions I'd willingly give up, after the internet, computers, smartphones, mobile phones...
When it snows, shovel your damn walk unless you are quite sure that it will melt away completely within 24 hours. Most Seattle residents don't clear their walk after a big snow, even if continued cold weather is predicted. Its not a problem for a day or so, because fresh snow is easy to walk on. After a day or two of people walking on it, maybe a little thawing, a little rain, freezing again at night, and it becomes a hazzard. People walking across risk slipping and/or turning their ankle and falling.
If the snow isn't too deep and/or wet, it may be easier and just as effective to sweep your walk.
Black ice is a thing. The result of not being aware of it is pretty much always terrifying, often dangerous, and frequently expensive. Even in excruciating slow motion!
Slippery streets are really slippery. If you have concerns about getting up or down a hill, don't do it. You have other options, even if you can't back up or turn around, you can park your car and call for help. Seriously. My usually cautious, sensible wife somehow got in her head that her only choice was to drive down a snowy, icy hill, lost traction and barely avoided smashing up herself and the car. This advice also applies to foot travel.
As people have suggested, avoid driving on snow days if you can. Your AWD really shouldn't change that decision, at least not until you have a lot more experience with operating a car in the snow AND awareness of the stupid-shit other drivers can do in the snow (like slide through red lights AND MORE). Also, your AWD car can still get stuck in deep snow, and loose traction on ice. AWD is great, but it is no substitute for chains or studded snow tires.
Practice driving in adverse conditions. Big office parking lots are good on weekends and evenings. Once you have some experience, you can move on to cautious, deliberate drives around neighborhood streets.
I don't know about the safety of strapping a kid in a thick coat into a car seat. I do know that fleece blankets are warm and cheap and can be used to cover a kid in a car seat. They are probably something you want in your car in the winter anyway if there is any chance your drive might be impeded by weather. Consider keeping some gloves and other warm clothing in the car too.
Clear frozen days are glorious if you've got the right outerwear on.
Socks can make a cold bed seem much less cold. Heated mattress pads are awesome too.
If you have an older open fireplace: Having a fire can waste a lot of energy by sucking heat out of your house and up the chimney. The unused fireplace can also loose heat, even if the damper is closed. We found that putting a thin panel over the opening to our fireplace when we weren't using it made the livingroom significantly cozier/less drafty.
posted by Good Brain at 5:49 PM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
You've heard about dressing in layers. Its a good thing. At least one layer should be polarfleece or similar, that stuff + breathable waterproof fabrics are probably the last late-20th century inventions I'd willingly give up, after the internet, computers, smartphones, mobile phones...
When it snows, shovel your damn walk unless you are quite sure that it will melt away completely within 24 hours. Most Seattle residents don't clear their walk after a big snow, even if continued cold weather is predicted. Its not a problem for a day or so, because fresh snow is easy to walk on. After a day or two of people walking on it, maybe a little thawing, a little rain, freezing again at night, and it becomes a hazzard. People walking across risk slipping and/or turning their ankle and falling.
If the snow isn't too deep and/or wet, it may be easier and just as effective to sweep your walk.
Black ice is a thing. The result of not being aware of it is pretty much always terrifying, often dangerous, and frequently expensive. Even in excruciating slow motion!
Slippery streets are really slippery. If you have concerns about getting up or down a hill, don't do it. You have other options, even if you can't back up or turn around, you can park your car and call for help. Seriously. My usually cautious, sensible wife somehow got in her head that her only choice was to drive down a snowy, icy hill, lost traction and barely avoided smashing up herself and the car. This advice also applies to foot travel.
As people have suggested, avoid driving on snow days if you can. Your AWD really shouldn't change that decision, at least not until you have a lot more experience with operating a car in the snow AND awareness of the stupid-shit other drivers can do in the snow (like slide through red lights AND MORE). Also, your AWD car can still get stuck in deep snow, and loose traction on ice. AWD is great, but it is no substitute for chains or studded snow tires.
Practice driving in adverse conditions. Big office parking lots are good on weekends and evenings. Once you have some experience, you can move on to cautious, deliberate drives around neighborhood streets.
I don't know about the safety of strapping a kid in a thick coat into a car seat. I do know that fleece blankets are warm and cheap and can be used to cover a kid in a car seat. They are probably something you want in your car in the winter anyway if there is any chance your drive might be impeded by weather. Consider keeping some gloves and other warm clothing in the car too.
Clear frozen days are glorious if you've got the right outerwear on.
Socks can make a cold bed seem much less cold. Heated mattress pads are awesome too.
If you have an older open fireplace: Having a fire can waste a lot of energy by sucking heat out of your house and up the chimney. The unused fireplace can also loose heat, even if the damper is closed. We found that putting a thin panel over the opening to our fireplace when we weren't using it made the livingroom significantly cozier/less drafty.
posted by Good Brain at 5:49 PM on November 12, 2014 [1 favorite]
Oh, also, labs and other medium coat dogs seem to do at the typical cold temps here without coats/sweaters, but their food intake may need to be upped to compensate.
Also, overnight freezing eases collection of dog crap in the yard. Best to take advantage of it before it thaws again.
posted by Good Brain at 5:53 PM on November 12, 2014
Also, overnight freezing eases collection of dog crap in the yard. Best to take advantage of it before it thaws again.
posted by Good Brain at 5:53 PM on November 12, 2014
To add to the dire warnings about our one snow day per year, expect preschool/daycare to cancel if there's snow. And once your kid is in Seattle Public Schools, expect cancellation if there is a reasonable forecast for snow. Ever since the year snow trapped hundreds of students in schools and on buses (at the top of steep hills) they've been extra cautious. (I think it was 1991? or maybe 1992. I could tell you stories.) If you go to work when it may snow, please plan to be able to walk home. My mom (that same year) had to walk from Capital Hill back to Crown Hill. If you can work from home or take a "snow day" to play, that's the best option. Snow rarely lasts here. (Though a cheap snow shovel is handy for the day it happens.)
For driving in the rain -- practice, go slow, stay in the right lane whenever possible while you are driving twenty under the speed limit, and try out all the levels of wiper speed to see which one works best for different kinds of rain. You should definitely drive with your lights on in the rain, but honestly, I don't see much reason to turn lights off. You might as well drive with your lights always on. We get plenty of days where it looks like sunset light-wise at noon, so it's not like it's not dark enough.
Check with your doctor (or your kid's), but you probably all want Vitamin D -- my doctor says basically everyone in Seattle should be taking it. Other people are probably right about the sun lamps -- I grew up here and prefer overcast skies, but I know that's not normal.
And yes, a blanket or the coat as a blanket after the car seat is secure. It's not like most toddlers like wearing jackets anyways. I'd only have a toddler wear a jacket if we were going to be spending awhile outside, like at the playground, or going on a walk.
posted by Margalo Epps at 9:54 PM on November 12, 2014
For driving in the rain -- practice, go slow, stay in the right lane whenever possible while you are driving twenty under the speed limit, and try out all the levels of wiper speed to see which one works best for different kinds of rain. You should definitely drive with your lights on in the rain, but honestly, I don't see much reason to turn lights off. You might as well drive with your lights always on. We get plenty of days where it looks like sunset light-wise at noon, so it's not like it's not dark enough.
Check with your doctor (or your kid's), but you probably all want Vitamin D -- my doctor says basically everyone in Seattle should be taking it. Other people are probably right about the sun lamps -- I grew up here and prefer overcast skies, but I know that's not normal.
And yes, a blanket or the coat as a blanket after the car seat is secure. It's not like most toddlers like wearing jackets anyways. I'd only have a toddler wear a jacket if we were going to be spending awhile outside, like at the playground, or going on a walk.
posted by Margalo Epps at 9:54 PM on November 12, 2014
Another thing, in terms of heating. We don't heat our bedroom, but we do have an electric mattress pad. If we're doing it right, we turn it on 30-60 minutes before bedtime so the flannel sheets are nice and cozy when we get in. My husband leaves it on low most nights, while I have to turn it off or I overheat. Having blankets in addition to a comforter is nice and can help you get the right amount of layers each night. (It's easy to toss off a blanket after a few hours, if you're too hot. If the comforter is on top, it gets trickier to regulate.)
posted by Margalo Epps at 10:36 AM on November 13, 2014
posted by Margalo Epps at 10:36 AM on November 13, 2014
And more weather -- especially if there's a chance of snow in the forecast, go to Cliff Mass -- he's really good at explaining what the chance of snow depends on, the likelihood, and the potential amount of snow we're talking about. (And if you want to know more about the weather here, he also wrote a book about Northwest weather which is fascinating.)
If the power goes out and you can still use websites on your phone, you can report outages to Puget Sound Energy (assuming that's your power company) or call 1-888-225-5773. (The website has a map of where they already know it's out.) And find out if you have any kind of neighborhood blog -- for me, West Seattle Blog is super useful to find out how many other people are without power, why, when they're expecting it to be back on, and to report in if no one else has from my area.
posted by Margalo Epps at 10:51 AM on November 13, 2014
If the power goes out and you can still use websites on your phone, you can report outages to Puget Sound Energy (assuming that's your power company) or call 1-888-225-5773. (The website has a map of where they already know it's out.) And find out if you have any kind of neighborhood blog -- for me, West Seattle Blog is super useful to find out how many other people are without power, why, when they're expecting it to be back on, and to report in if no one else has from my area.
posted by Margalo Epps at 10:51 AM on November 13, 2014
Get a large plastic bin. Put some emergency natural disaster survival supplies in it. Make sure your family knows where it's at. You may never need it but, but there is a compelling, non-zero chance this one simple step could come in super handy if it snows and the power goes out or there is a major earthquake. Those are not things that *will* happen, but they definitely could, and you might be surprised at what gets shut down around here. Driving in Seattle and surrounding areas is treacherous if we get a heavy snowfall, which happens every few years. We don't salt snowy roads, we sand them. It's not that great at what it does, but it's a whole lot more ecologically friendly than salting.
This thread sounds kind of scary about the snow. It's not scary, it's really beautiful when the fir and cedar are covered in snow and you're sipping hot chocolate in your flannel shirt and wooly slippers and you can best appreciate it if you are prepared.
posted by HMSSM at 10:17 PM on November 13, 2014 [2 favorites]
This thread sounds kind of scary about the snow. It's not scary, it's really beautiful when the fir and cedar are covered in snow and you're sipping hot chocolate in your flannel shirt and wooly slippers and you can best appreciate it if you are prepared.
posted by HMSSM at 10:17 PM on November 13, 2014 [2 favorites]
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