Chase safety for blizzards/snowstorms/ice storms

[Dan Robinson]

I wanted to post a quick item about chasing significant winter storms. These can be more dangerous than any other type of storm, including a hurricane.

The only safe way to experience these types of events is to get a hotel in the path, and stay there for the duration of the storm. DO NOT STAY MOBILE. Staying mobile in a significant storm presents a high threat of injury (frostbite and/or hypothermia) and death.

A few other pointers:

- For blizzards, don't venture farther from your hotel than you can visibly see the building. Deaths have occured from people walking down their own street and becoming disoriented.

- Take several days worth of food and water, just like you would for a hurricane. You may be stranded for days.

- Protect your extremities. Hand and foot warmers are cheap and very helpful in staying comfortable.

- Beware of icy roads, a hazard that begins with the onset of precip and lingers long after the storm.

- Don't stop along highways to pull people from ditches. This often triggers secondary accidents. It's not worth risking your life to help someone out of a non-life threatening situation. Call for a tow truck who can properly block the road and/or call for police to safely block lanes as needed.

I could talk about things like tire chains (available at Wal-Mart), 4WD vehicles and such, but doing these assumes you're mobile during the storm, which isn't something I'd want to encourage by saying so.

Any others with field experience in winter storms, please feel free to add to this if I left anything out.

 

[Jason Foster]

Dan, you are right on target. While I often go out in storms in the DC area, they are often only storms with 3 to 8 inches. If I drive it isn't until after the roads have been treated somewhat. I also completely accept the likelihood of some sort of damage to my vehicle. And in about 50% of the time in major storms, I have damaged the car to some degree.

I will add the AWD adds very little use in major winter conditions when roads are not treated. Snow is EXTREMELY slick, and once all the wheels loose traction AWD just means all four wheels are spinning.

While I do go out, there are some essential items that I take that might help in some situations.

1. snow shovel/dirt shovel
2. sand/cat litter
3. blankets
4. hand warmers (get six or seven)
5. cell phone and charger. Some folks may need to consider extended range antennas
6. salt
7. extra windshield fluid
8. your own squiggy (sp?)
9. winter wipers (pre-installed)
10. extra food
11. Handheld GPS (do always know where you are regardless of visibility). Be sure bread crum feature is turned on.

These are just a few that come to mind....I may add more later. Winter storm intercepts (because it really isn't chasing) should be thought of similar to a hurricane intercept. You don't need to 'chase' anything in particular. Good forecasting will put you in the heaviest part of the storm (if you desire such).

As Dan mentioned, in many cases you'll want to secure yourself in a hotel or other HEATED location, especially during the heaviest portion of the storm. Unless you are a seasoned cold weather camper or explorer, you will not be able to sustain the cold. Your toes and finger tips will sting from the cold.

For those in territories like the plains or mountain areas, the risk escalated very quickly.

My last thing to add to Dan's post is this: If you choose to go out (for chasing reason or just because you have to travel) be sure to let someone know your plans, call ahead to your destination and whenever you stop driving, try to call and let someone know your status and location.



Even in this past weekends storm where I ventured out in my own county...I got a little disoriented here and there because the snow made things look different and visibility was low. Sometimes roadsigns are

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

9 volt battery for the clock radio at the motel. I'm an idiot and never ever remember this as many times as it has annoyed me. Power goes out, silence can be deafening. I sit there in the dark and think, if only I had a 9 volt battery for that clock radio. It's good for info too obviously, though your car radio would work. But at least for being in the motel at night, a 9 volt battery is way way up there on things to remember next time. Or your own battery powered radio obviously.

 

[Stephen Locke]

From a safety standpoint I would avoid Day 1 all together. Even with four wheel drive if the roads are closed they are just closed. Day one could be a real mess with no road access and motels full. Another issue is visibility. You just can't see anything in a blizzard. With cold temps the snow will be there on day 2 or even day 3. Just giving this 24 hours will let the plows open almost everything up. If I go it won't be on Day 1.