As we enjoy the last days of summer, we can’t help but already start thinking about winter. John Steinbeck once wrote, “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” In that case, next summer should be particularly sweet as this coming winter is predicted to be a very cold one.
After an unusually warm winter last year in the eastern half of the country, and an unusually snowy winter in the Sierra Nevada, the Farmer’s Almanac is warning this winter will be different for those up east and they should brace themselves for cool temperatures and snowy days.
The Farmer’s Almanac provides more detail:
Our extended weather forecast, which is based on a mathematical and astronomical formula, calls for below-average temperatures and lots of snowstorms, sleet, ice, rain for much of the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Midwest areas of the country, as well as central and northern New England, especially in January and February.
Even traditionally warmer areas like Texas and the Southeast will see the mercury drop:
Texans will need to bundle up, as unseasonably cold weather is forecast throughout January and February, with a possible major winter storm in mid-January…The Southeast and Florida will see a wetter-than-normal winter, with average winter temperatures overall, but a few frosts may send many shivers to snowbirds trying to avoid the cold and snow back home.
Fortunately, there’s plenty of time to plan ahead and prepare for winter. Here are our top 5 tips to get ready for the cold.
Winterize your home by insulating your walls, attic, and basement to keep the cold air out and the warm air in. Weatherstrip doors and windows, caulk gaps in walls, and insulate electrical outlets and switches to prevent drafts.
Secure an emergency heating source like a wood-burning stove or a portable propane heater in case of power outages or heating system failures.
Get your vehicle serviced to ensure it's ready for winter driving and install winter tires for better traction. Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle with items like a shovel, ice scraper, jumper cables, HotHands hand warmers, heating pads, and a body warmer.
Invest in a backup generator or portable power source to keep essential appliances running during power outages and consider getting a power bank for charging mobile devices.
Stock up on essential supplies like non-perishable foods, medications, and toiletries so you don't have to venture out during a storm. Assemble an emergency kit in case you get snowed in and there is a power outage. Your emergency kit should include a first-aid kit, flashlights, batteries, candles, drinking water, blankets, and plenty of Hot Hands hand warmers, lap warmers, and body warmers.
If the storm is severe enough, you will need to be able to stay warm for long periods of time, so you may want to buy hand warmers in bulk. If your hands get too cold and your fingertips are numb, you won’t be able to do much to help yourself in an emergency. Keeping a large stash of HotHands on hand (no pun intended) can literally be a matter of survival. The smart move is to stock up on bulk hand warmers while they’re cheap, plentiful, and easy to get.
Follow these tips and you’ll be ready when Jack Frost does his worst. Get ready while you’re still warm —now— so you can stay warm all winter long. That way when summer comes around it will be full of sweetness and not regret.