Your car is going to be fine. Really. Yes, Winter tires and four wheel drive* help, but consider that rental car agencies, transportation agencies, delivery agencies, and even other residents get by with the tires they have year round which is usually a good set of All Weather tires, specifically those with 3 mountain peaks and a snowflake.

Remember to drive slower and be conscious of the prior weather at all times. It may be 40 degrees during the day but perhaps it got down to 18 degrees at night. All the snow that melted onto the road and walkways has likely frozen over by the morning commute. Winter tires won't save you from ice.

*This includes all wheel drive

If you have any Winter vehicle maintenance questions you can ask in our #Automotive channel!

A misconception many transplants tend to have is that it constantly snows during Winter; that the roads don't stay clear because it snows 24/7. This is not the case. The truth is, Rochester gets an average of 12 inches of snow a month. If that's a daily snowfall, it's less than 0.5 inches a day. In reality, we'll get a few inches one day, then a few inches later in the week, and repeat.

The city has no problem keeping up with that amount of snow and the roads will be OK the following day, if not hours after a snow event.

Plan on buying a good full face covering, scarf, jacket, pants, shoes, and socks. These will keep you warm and out of the wind as best as possible. Downtown Rochester also has enclosed walkways above and below the roads called Skyways & Subways. You can use these to get between downtown buildings rather easily. 

The city goes to great lengths to ensure pedestrian pathways are kept clear and accessible. Residents & Business have 24 hours after a snow event to clear snow from public access walkways. Have a hi-vis jacket and a head lamp with you if you will be walking or cycling past 5pm. Being seen is important!

Look into buying ice cleats that fit over your shoes, these are immesnsely helpful when walking after a recent rain that has frozen over or even uphill on sidewalks. Studded bicycle tires are legal and will help considerably as well.

Dressing in layers is key. Consider keeping the layers on you when in the car should your vehicle breakdown, but you'll be able to take layers off when at your destination. Thermal pants and shirts can help a lot when used as a base or starting layer.

Farmers coats are a great option as an outer layer against the cold.

If you’re outside for a longer period of time, consider sunscreen on your face - you can still get sunburnt in winter. The low temps and wind can be more dangerous than snow and ice if outside. Bundle up and show as little skin as possible. Wet clothes make everything worse, change into dry clothing if you can (socks especially).

If you need any recommendations, our #fashion-and-beauty channel will gladly help!

If you must travel a long distance when a snow storm is looming, cancel or delay your plans if possible. Getting caught in adverse conditions isn't worth it. If you must drive, consider leaving a day earlier and finding overnight accommodations at your destination. If you're already at your destination and plan on travelling home during the storm, consider staying an extra night or leaving earlier.

Remember to drive to conditions! If your stopping distance is farther than you can see then you are going to fast. Speed limits are for perfect conditions, if you can't see 300 feet in front of you, then 65-50mph won't let you stop in time; don't drive faster than your line of sight will allow you to react and safely avoid an obstacle (such as coming to a full stop).

Pull over the shoulder if you MUST stop, conditions may worsen and other drivers on the road may be going too fast for conditions and thus be unable to see your car in time to avoid it.

The roads may be fine in town, but if you take any of the major roads out of town (52, 14, 90) they can be considerably worse due to blowing snow.

If you are in an accident or stopped along the road, do not leave your vehicle unless you need to clear your exhaust. Wear a hi-vis vest or have a flashlight for extra visibility. It is safer inside your vehicle which has crumple zones to protect from impacts. If you must leave your vehicle, cross over a barrier and walk against traffic. This way if your vehicle is hit and there is no barrier, it won't slide into you.

Regardless of the forecasted Winter weather, it's handy to keep supplies in your vehicle. 

While Minnesota doesn't allow tire chains or studded tires on public roads, a shovel & tire chains may be the difference between getting out of a ditch and waiting for a tow. Hand warmers will be helpful should your vehicle be disabled and you need to wait for a tow. A good ice scraper and brush are also helpful.

Flashlights, Headlamps, and Hi-Vis vests will help other drivers see you, especially since the sun sets around 4:30p and it's dark by 5p. That's prime commute time when most people are on the road.

The cold can, and does, kill. Another safety tip is to keep your car above a half tank of gas. We know it's silly, but if you do get stranded on the side of the road and need to wait for a tow, they may not be able to come get you for hours, especially in adverse conditions. You may want to run your car for warmth, so ensuring you have at least a half tank of gas at all times you can keep your vehicle running for hours. Just remember to get out and ensure your tail pipe exhaust isn't getting covered with snow, which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Additionally, it’s important to keep gas in your tank because your fuel line will freeze if it’s too low; a side effect being that your car won’t start). This prevents water from settling at the bottom of your tank or in the fuel lines, causing blockages.

Keeping a little extra food in the pantry is a good idea. Whether it's a simple meal like pasta or something more complex is up to you but should a large storm hit, you'll at least have food reserved in your pantry when folks make a run on the grocery store. Just make sure if you use something you buy it soon to keep your stock at a constant level.

Don't need to go full doomsday prepper but being unprepared when an ill-timed winter storm comes through is not fun.