So, it's about to snow in Nashville again. And, in case you had trouble forgetting February of 2021...Nashville is not very good with snow. Due to lack of salt trucks, limited experience driving in winter weather, or whatever the reason may be, we just suck at snow.
So, with parts of Middle Tennessee expecting up to 5 inches of snow (and potentially some ice) tomorrow afternoon and evening, here are a few things you can do to make sure you're less unprepared than your friends.
Check your supplies
This means batteries, food, bottled water, etc. It does not mean rush to Kroger and buy up all the milk and bread in the store. Unless there's significant icing, the chance of any power outages are pretty slim and the amount of time we're avoiding travel should be pretty limited as well. But, because roads don't get salted quickly (especially in outlying/suburban areas), it's probably helpful to make sure you've got a pretty good stock of all the food you need for at least a couple of days and things like batteries, candles, blankets, etc. just in case it gets bad enough to knock out power for a period of time. Keep in mind that temperatures tomorrow could fall into the single digits with windchills near zero, so in the unlikely event power becomes an issue, you're going to want to be prepared.
Bring your pets indoors
Don't be that person. If you're cold, they're cold. And if you can't bring them inside, at least make sure that they've got adequate shelter and access to water that's not frozen.
Prepare your vehicle
Let's be honest - it's not that often our cars have to deal with super cold temperatures or icy/snowy road conditions. So it's easy to overlook things like antifreeze and tire tread. But do a quick check on your radiator system, your wiper fluid, your tire pressure (should be between 30-35 psi), your heater, and brakes. And it's probably not a bad idea to go ahead and fill up your gas tank in case you do have to go somewhere. Speaking of which...
Make an emergency kit for your car
Again, the chances are pretty low of conditions creating a disaster like what happened on I-95 in Virginia. But, an accident, stuck car, or icy bridges CAN cause you delays if you're out and about in the snow. My wife and I got stuck driving through snow in Arkansas over the weekend because one of the bridges iced over and it took them several hours to make it drivable. It can happen. So if you're heading out in snowy/icy road conditions, make sure you have an emergency kit in your car consisting of blankets, flashlights, batteries, an extra charger, a windshield scraper, a first aid kit, some non-perishable food items, and water. That way, if you do get stuck in traffic for two or three hours, you have everything you need to keep your car in good working order and keep you safe and warm.
Photo: Getty Images
Again, I'm reiterating that it's pretty unlikely for tomorrow's snowstorm to cause true emergency conditions, but with 4+ inches of snow and subfreezing temperatures expected until Saturday afternoon, it's better to go ahead and prepare so you're not caught up in the panic later. Let it snow!