How to Prepare for Snowfall in North Carolina

This weekend, parts of North Carolina are expecting to see the first snowflakes of the season. Our state capital is one of the cities with a slight chance of snow showers. While the weather channel is only reporting a 40% chance of rain and snow showers, there are still a few things that NC residents should think about in the case of winter weather.

First, be sure to drive carefully if you get caught in a snowstorm. North Carolina is notorious for not handling winter road conditions with poise. In fact, the 2014 snowfall in the triangle region went viral when one photo revealed how many cars slid off the road and caused accidents. In order to avoid major road congestion during winter storms this season, be sure to drive slowly, prepare your car, and avoid icy roads whenever possible.

Next, make sure that you’ve got plenty of food. There’s no reason why you should have to hit the road to head to the grocery store during a storm. For some reason, North Carolinians (as well as other states) make a run for bread and milk when snow is on the forecast. While bread definitely makes sense, milk might not be the most important item on your grocery list.

If the power goes out, you’ll need foods that can be eaten without heating up and you’ll need to keep your refrigerator closed as much as possible. So, opt for dry foods like PB&J sandwiches, canned tuna, or protein bars. Bottles or jugs of water could also come in handy. Sometimes (especially in older homes) water pipes freeze and you won’t have clean running water to drink while you’re cooped up inside.

Finally, you’ll want to prepare for some things to do when you’re snowed in. Of course, this first snow of the season probably won’t turn into much, but it’s good to think ahead to the winter storms that might arise in January or later in December. If the power goes out, you’ll need to find ways to entertain yourself. That means that you should stock up on candles, board games, and books.

While an old-fashioned board game night might be enough to keep some entertained, it turns out that many Americans keep busy when the power goes out by getting busy. A recent study conducted by Treetopia.com found that many major snowstorms in American history have caused spikes in birth rates 9-10 months later. In fact, the January 2000 snowstorm which hit parts of NC and VA made it into their ranking of the top 10 snowstorms that led to the most snowbabies.

There’s no telling what this weekend’s weather will bring, but if North Carolina happens to get our first snowfall of the season, there’s a chance that our state will be seeing some extra babies born in 2018. For now, be sure to prepare for the chance of wintry weather and remember to stay off the roads if they become icy.