Heavy snow and difficult travel expected again, heaviest snow in southern Minnesota

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

many in the Twin Cities have faced their first days of challenging driving in snow this fall

,  Minnesotans new and old may realize they’ve fallen back into bad habits — not remembering how to drive in the snow. Here’s a reminder of some tips for driving and surviving in snow and ice. 

 Twitter account: Do you use snow tires? And, what are the must-have items in your trunk for a Minnesota winter?

Together, more than 1,500 Minnesotans answered. A surprising 68 percent voted that they do not put snow tires on their vehicles. Many who answered said it depends where you live. People from Rochester, Duluth and Pine County said they do use them.

Another popular response to the poll was advocating for all-weather tires. All tires are expensive, but a new set of winter tires can put you back $1,000 or so. All-weather tires can be a cost-friendly option for those not wanting to buy a second set of tires just for the winter.

Experts including AAA, Car and Driver, Consumer Reports and Popular Mechanics recommend anyone who drives in temperatures below 45 degrees buy winter tires as they are designed to improve traction in snow and ice. 

Yet, as many respondents noted, getting a tire upgrade of any sort is a privilege. 

“Sure I would like to drive safer, but it seems like another luxury that I can’t even consider,” one Twitter user said. 

For our must-have items poll, over half of respondents said a set of warm clothes. Less than 20 percent said cat litter, which is often recommended to dump under tires to help them gain traction when stuck, and four percent said a flare gun. The top tweeted option was a snow shovel. Other tweets included, a laundry detergent container full of sand, matches, a blanket and a portable jump starter pack.

The Minnesota Department of Safety has a 

 that includes the recommendation to make your own winter driving survival kit. They suggest using an empty three-pound coffee can to store the following items: 

Here’s another tip for something that’s in your trunk but you may not think about often: Brake lights. 

, who teaches driver’s education in Shakopee and New Prague, told Wurzer that drivers should make sure their brake lights are working and clear of snow.  

“As you need to slow down, sometimes even stop, you want that to be an eye-catching aspect to anyone behind you,” Hudspeth said. “if they are tailgating or semi-tailgating, or even if they're back farther, being able to see that your brake lights are being illuminated as you step on them would be quite important.” 

If you have extra space for some bulky items, these are the best options: 

If you become stranded, pull far off the road to minimize being hit by passing vehicles, and then call 911. Provide information on your location and the condition of all people in the vehicle. Follow instructions and do not hang up until you know who you have spoken with and what will happen next. 

In a snowstorm it is recommended to stay inside your vehicle, but If you must leave your vehicle, write down your contact information and leave it in the front windshield. 

Do you have another tip you think we should add to our list? Email me at sstroozas@mpr.org.

Minnesota News

Weather and Climate News

Sam Stroozas

Author

As many in the Twin Cities have faced their first days of challenging driving in snow this fall,  Minnesotans new and old may realize they’ve fallen back into bad habits — not remembering how to drive in the snow. Here’s a reminder of some tips for driving and surviving in snow and ice. 

Driving in snow scaring you? Top tips to drive and survive in ice and snow

Go Deeper.

Like this?