You don’t want to get blindsided by a cold snap or sudden snowfall. The Midwest is notorious for quick inclement weather that lasts entirely too long and ruins plans. While the weather is fair most of the time, winter especially tends to have a few surprises in store. If you prepare your car for winter ahead of time, you’ll find that rough weather isn’t so bad and you can safely get to work, the store, or brave that long distance trip without worrying as much about the conditions outside.
Creating a car snow kit is part of that preparation process. You don’t need to stuff the trunk like you’re getting ready for vacation, just pack the bare minimum to get you set up for any winter situation. We’ve compiled a list of the most important things you should always have in your car for winter conditions so you can drive safely and confidently if the need arises.
Ice Scraper/Snow Brush
These typically go hand-in-hand and most people have them stashed somewhere in their car already, but if you don’t, invest in an ice scraper. Most come combined with a snow brush but getting them together or separate is up to you.
It hardly needs to be said, but snow brings ice. Even an inch or two of snow can turn into ice across your windshield if left overnight or if you’re stuck in rough weather long enough. A snow brush helps you get the snow off of your windshields before it starts to freeze over, while the ice scraper helps you clear any bits of ice that managed to cling on stubbornly. If you’ve ever experienced ice on your windshield, you know how hard it is to drive. Of all the things to keep in your car, this is one of the most important.
Windshield Washer Fluid with De-icer
Once you’ve cleared away the ice and snow from your windshield, you should check your windshield wiper fluid levels to see if they’re low or frozen over. If you haven’t already, always have spare windshield fluid with de-icer on hand in case of emergencies. This fluid won’t freeze over and helps keep your windshield from building up ice as you drive.
Flashlight with Extra Batteries
It gets dark early in the winter and you may find yourself on the road past sunlight hours. There is always a chance that something happens, either with weather, your vehicle, or both, that leaves you stuck in your car while awaiting assistance. In times like these, it’s best to have a flashlight somewhere easy to reach, like your glovebox, with spare batteries. Now you can see at night in case you need to get out and check the engine on a back road, find something in the backseat in the dark, or signal for help in the event your car battery dies.
First Aid Kit
Winter comes with its fair share of dangers. Couple that with inclement weather and you have a recipe for trouble. According to the Department of Transportation, over 116,000 people get in car accidents during the winter every year. While most of these accidents are due to ice slicks or snow, any of these incidents could end up injuring you.
In the event you end up in a crash or on the side of the road, it’s best to have a first aid kit handy to deal with any injuries that arise before help can arrive. Prepare for the worst and you’ll never get caught by surprise.
Blanket
Depending on the weather, anything can happen in the winter. You may get a flat, your battery may die, or you could end up in an accident and get stuck on the side of the road. Whatever the case, you may have to wait for an extended period of time for help to arrive. In some cases, you may not be able to run the car to keep the heat going.
In these instances, it’s best to have a blanket somewhere in the car, like the back seat or the trunk, to keep yourself warm. It can take hours for assistance to arrive, so having a means to keep yourself warm is vital to your safety. A proper car snow kit isn’t complete without a warm blanket or two.
Cell Phone Charger
Help is just a phone call away, but could take hours to arrive. You want to keep your phone charged as much as possible in the event that something happens while you’re on the road. Tow services are typically stretched thin during the cold season, so getting the call in as soon as possible will get you out of a jam even sooner.
Keep a cell phone charger somewhere in the car that’s easy to reach and can either plug into your car to charge or has another power source like an external battery or charging doc in case your car battery dies.
Sand/Cat Litter
When the weather turns south, snow piles up and turns to ice. Whether you’re parked at your house or on the road, you’ll likely need to contend with ice at some point. Unless you retrofitted your tires before the season started or have four wheel drive, your tires won’t get enough traction when you hit an ice patch or deep snow.
In order to get traction, you need something gritty like sand or cat litter. This gives your tires something to grip on slick ice or snow so you can get some momentum. You could mix winter salt with the sand to assist in melting the snow along with giving your tires better traction. If you’re stuck somewhere, this also provides emergency services better traction when retrieving your vehicle, so it’s a win for everyone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also has some useful tips for checking your tires and staying safe in inclement winter weather conditions.
Small Shovel
Not only do you have to dig out your driveway and brush the snow off your car, but there may come a time when you need to dig your car out of a snow drift or clear away some ice. If you end up on the side of the road in a snowstorm or need a tool to clear away your tires, a small shovel is indispensable.
This doesn’t need to be a full-sized snow shovel (unless you can comfortably fit it in your car). It just needs to be big enough to move snow and, ideally, ice from around your tires so you can move from wherever you are trapped.
Jumper Cables
Cold weather can cause car battery troubles, especially in older vehicles. Due to the cold, the chemical reaction that gets the battery going can be slower, leading the vehicle to stall out if it’s cold enough. The cold can also reduce the battery power significantly, leading to complete power failure in the worst case scenario.
Since this threat is higher during the winter, part of your winter driving essentials should be a pair of jumper cables. This way, anyone that pulls over to help you has the tools to jumpstart your battery and get you on your way.
Reflectors/Flares
One of the final tools to help prepare your car for winter is a set of reflectors or emergency flares. These can be stored in the trunk or back seat of your car and used in case you end up stranded on the side of the road in bad weather. Reflectors can be used to alert other cars on the road of your location and guide emergency vehicles to you in rough weather. Flares can be used in the dark or especially rough conditions to relay your location to emergency responders.
Prepare Your Car for Winter Weather
The roads can get rough this time of year, especially around St. Louis. Winter tends to lead to distracted driving around here as well, so be prepared. Packing your car emergency kit essentials gives you greater odds of getting out of a jam or getting help. These items are all essential in their own way and account for nearly every potential winter weather scenario.
Make sure you always have a car winter emergency kit set up and stored somewhere in your car so you aren’t left scrambling when the worst happens. If you prepare enough in advance, you can safely handle any type of weather that winter throws your way.
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