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Surviving Seattle Winters

Seattle has the highest latitude of any non-Alaskan major American city. Needless to say, Seattle winters are cold. Whether you are a newcomer to the Seattle area or a long-time resident, you should make the proper preparations for the harsh Seattle winter. Some of these preparations are troublesome in the least, but may end up saving your life.

  1. Join a SNAP Class

    • SNAP stands for Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare. These classes will teach you how to do all the little things you can do to help yourself better prepare for possible future problems and disasters, including the fierce Seattle winters. These classes tend to be interactive and focused on steps that are not time consuming or expensive. In other words, they teach tips that almost anyone can use to prepare for Seattle winters. These classes are especially useful for newcomers to Seattle, as they can ask questions of more experienced residents.

    Prepare for Power Outages

    • Power outages are common for Seattle winters. Thus, you should make the proper preparations for such events. Understand your own needs and how electricity powers those needs. Then, make preparations for the situation that electricity cannot power those needs. For example, if your stoves are electric and you have no fireplace, prepare gas stoves and a gas heater for if the power goes out. In addition, have candles and blankets handy.

    Be Aware of Winter Storms

    • Winter storms tend to be the harshest parts of the Seattle winter. Be well equipped for these storms by outfitting your home with what you need to fight the storms. Items like storm windows, warm clothes, kerosene heaters and plenty of firewood are important to have on hand. Also, pay close attention to the television news during the winter for reports of winter storms.

    Transportation

    • Seattle’s transportation system is not as convenient as those of other major cities. As of 2011, Seattle lacks a working subway system. Thus, many residents of Seattle use cars as their main form of transportation. However, during the winter, when snow is abundant, driving can be dangerous. Outfit your car with snow wheels or chains; these preparations can save you from sliding or getting stuck in the snow. But these tools are not perfect; make sure your car contains items that would help you out of a jam. Items like window scrapers, spare bottles of water and hand warmers are of particular importance.

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