6 Tips for Your First Utah Winter
Posted: January 18, 2022 | Author: Savannah Byers | Read Time: 7 minutes
Utah winters are beautiful, but they can quickly become severe and even dangerous. Whether it’s your first Utah winter or your twentieth, safely preparing yourself and your home for the season is crucial. As college students, preparing for the cold weather ahead of time is especially important to stay on track with school.
Six Utah Winter Tips
Follow these winter safety tips for a great season:
#1. Dress for Winter Weather
Layering up for winter is a crucial step to stay warm and safe during cold snaps. If it's your first time living in a place with winter weather, investing in some seasonal winter clothing will be especially helpful. Purchase the following to fight the frostbite:
Winter coat
A winter coat is universal and will be useful to keep you warm and insulated. Prioritize warmness over fashion when purchasing a winter coat. A puffer coat/down jacket will hold up in more severe weather conditions than something like a Sherpa coat. Quality winter coats are available for reasonable prices at Costco, Target, Walmart, and many other stores. Also, winter coats with attached hoods are always preferable.
Winter boots
Winter boots have the insulation to keep your feet and toes warm, the traction to help you avoid slipping, and the height to keep snow and sleet out of your socks. Winter boots will probably be the most expensive item on the winter clothing list, so investing in a good pair of boots that will last multiple years is important. If you are only living in Utah for a year or two, purchasing winter boots secondhand can be a cost effective option.
Gloves
Often overlooked but extremely important, gloves prevent your fingers from numbing in freezing temperatures and they save your hands when you inevitably slip on ice. Buying a cheap pack of gloves from Walmart or Target is a great way to ensure that you will always have a pair of gloves nearby- in your backpack, in your car, in your dorm/apartment.
Bright clothing
To increase nighttime visibility when it gets dark at 5:30 p.m., wear brightly colored clothes. Even just a hat or a scarf, wearing brightly colored clothing will help keep you and others safe and prevent accidents.
#2. Have Supplies On-Hand
As a college student, you probably won’t need a back-up generator or a snow plow, but having some winter supplies on-hand can save you in a pinch. Purchase the following supplies in case of a snowy day:
Extra blankets
To layer on top of your comforter or to layer over your window, having a few extra blankets on hand can make all the difference when temperatures drop and the need for coziness goes up.
Flashlights/candles
Sometimes winter storms can cause temporary power outages. Having things like battery-operated flashlights and large candles will be helpful just in case. Candles can also be used to embrace hygge and fight seasonal depression.
Hand warmers
Hand warmers are great for football games, winter hikes, and those who run cold. For those with sunny hometowns, hand warmers are small, natural, single-use packets that you can hold in your hand for warmth.
Shovel (off-campus)
If you are living on-campus, investing in a shovel can be helpful when bigger blizzards hit. Even for just clearing snow around your vehicle’s tires or a pathway to walk, shovels can come in handy during the winter months. If you live on-campus, SUU Facilities will clear and prepare on-campus areas for snow.
Rock salt, cat litter, and/or sand (off-campus)
Increasing traction and melting snow are important when it comes to navigating through the snow safely- on foot and in a vehicle. Rock salt, cat litter, and sand are popular options when it comes to prepping outdoor surfaces for winter weather. Having a bag on hand isn’t a bad idea. If you live on-campus, SUU Facilities will clear and prepare on-campus areas for snow.
#3. Prioritize Your Health
Utah winters are no joke, and taking the time to take care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your living space. Explore the following resources to prepare for winter health implications:
Mental health
Countless people struggle with seasonal depression every year. If seasonal depression, or any other mental health issues, is something you struggle with, reach out to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). SUU’s CAPS is a free mental health service available for students. Call CAPS at 435-865-8621 for more information or to request counseling.
Physical health
In addition to taking care of your mental health, don’t forget to take care of your physical health during the colder months. As temperatures drop, bundle up to avoid catching a cold. Consider getting your flu shot and COVID-19 vaccination/booster shot for increased immunity against viruses. Incorporate veggies into winter soups and fruits into holiday pies. Try some winter outdoor activities for some fun exercise and a break in the seasonal monotony.
#4. Prepare Your Living Space
Just like the cold weather can have an impact on you and your health, the winter weather can also affect your living space. Follow these tips prepare your living space for cold temperatures:
Drip
When you leave your dorm/apartment for extended periods of time, leave a drip on all the faucets. A drip means turning the water on the lowest level possible so that the water is just dripping out of the faucet. Leaving a drip will help prevent pipes from freezing and kitchen disposals from stinking.
Space heater/heated blankets
To avoid a spike in your heating bill, invest in a space heater or an electric, heated blanket. Especially if you run cold, these devices can be extremely helpful for staying warm.
Insulate windows
Sometimes it can be necessary to add some extra insulation to windows in your rental to keep the heat trapped inside. Local hardware and general stores will have things like weather stripping, draft stoppers, and thermal curtains that can be used to keep the heat inside and the cold outside.
#5. Drive Safely
Preparing to drive in the cold and extreme weather conditions is a crucial safety step, regardless of whether or not this is your first winter in Utah. Car pileups are common in the winter months, and they can be avoidable with these few steps:
Check the weather
Ahead of long drives, be sure to check the weather. The National Weather Service, The Weather Channel, and UDOT Road Conditions are great sources for weather information and road conditions. Because weather is subject to change on a small time frame, be sure to check the forecast even a few hours before you depart.
Warning lights
It’s common for some warning lights in your car to activate simply because of the colder weather. Lights that tend to come on include the tire pressure light and the coolant light. Be vigilant about checking your car, but do not be alarmed if these lights turn on when you start your car. Usually they will disable as your car warms up.
Supplies
In any weather, it’s important to have emergency supplies in your car at all times. In the winter months, adding an ice scraper, snow brush, and possibly a snow shovel can be helpful. Throw a snow shovel in your trunk if you are driving in the mountains as a precaution if you find yourself stuck in a snowbank.
#6. Defrost Your Car
No matter how time consuming and frustrating it may be, always defrost your car before driving- even if it means being a few minutes late. When temperatures are at or below freezing, your car’s windows will frost even if it hasn’t snowed recently. Follow these steps to defrost your car safely before driving:
Plan ahead
Planning an extra 10 minutes every morning to defrost your car will help make the process less stressful and frantic. If you need help remembering to defrost your car, set a repeated alarm on your phone.
Ice scraper
Don’t be the person in the middle of the parking lot using the sleeve of their sweatshirt to clear the snow off of their car. Spend a few dollars on an ice scraper to streamline the process. As an added measure, wear gloves when clearing your car to protect your hands from painful frostbite.
Bonus tip: Don’t forget to clear the snow off of the top and hood of your car so it doesn’t end up on the windshield, potentially blocking your vision and endangering nearby drivers and/or pedestrians.
While Utah winters can be freezing and dire, following these six winter tips will help make the season more safe and fun. In addition to preparing yourself and your living space for Utah’s winter weather, Southern Utah University has a hardworking Facilities Management team that prepares campus ahead of time for severe winter weather.
Tags: Student Life
