We’ve got snow in this weekend’s forecast, folks, which means it could either miss us completely, or shut down the city for a week. Here are some tips for surviving snow in Nashville.
🥫 Prepare
- Keep an eye on the Nashville Severe Weather blog and social media for forecasts and updates. If you’re new, you might not know how erratic the weather is here. Forecasts change rapidly. But if we get any snow, Nashville shuts down.
- Cover porch steps or walkways with tarp or cardboard, so you can clear snow more easily.
- Shop responsibly at the grocery store. Yes, it’s smart to stock up on supplies, but leave enough for your neighbors, too.
- Get any medications from the pharmacy before Saturday.
- Check in on your elderly family members and neighbors to see if they need anything.
- Stock up on books, music, and movies from the library.
- Schools will likely call out if there’s snow, though MNPS tends to wait until the last minute. Be prepared for kids being home at least a few days.
- Follow space heater safety tips, if you use one.
My kid likes making snow cats. (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)
🛷 Snow Fun
- The best sledding hill is the one you can walk to. Please, don’t try to drive on slippery roads to find a cool hill!
- Don’t have a sled? Trash can and organizer bin lids can work in a pinch.
- No snow boots? Wrap plastic bags around your socks before putting your shoes on, to prevent your feet from getting wet.
- Send me pics of your snow creations and snow-day fun, and I’ll feature ‘em in the Hey Nashville newsletter!
🛋️ Avoid Driving
- Maybe you’ve driven in snow plenty of times. Great. Unfortunately, there will be someone else on the road sliding around like butter in a hot pan. They’re just as likely to hit you as a mailbox. It’s not worth going out until the roads are clear, if you can help it. Many people don’t have snow tires, and our roads just aren’t equipped to handle snow and ice.
- Instead, make something yummy, drink hot chocolate, and cozy up on the couch with some books and movies. If you have outdoor pets, bring them inside.
🚙 If You Have To Drive …
- Nashville now has a fleet of 45 snow plows, including Dolly Plowton and Frosty the Snow Plow. That’s much more than in previous years, so there’s hope it won’t take too long for roads to get cleared. Check NDOT’s snow removal priority routes, and stick to primary roads as much as possible.
- Clear the snow from the top of your car before heading out.
- Keep an eye on TDOT’s cameras to see how bad the roads are.
- If you get stuck, check Facebook for local 4x4 emergency groups.
- Once the ice and snow begin to melt, beware of potholes.
Stay safe out there, folks! And have fun!
❄️ How To Deice Responsibly
