By: Stephanie Reynolds
“…then it blew, then it frizz, then it snew” — I have no idea where my father got this saying, but it was a staple as I was growing up. We Limestonians have experienced all that in the past month. Even as I typed that last sentence, an alert on my watch popped up with, “Next blast of Arctic air arrives tonight” (fun fact: Just this morning it was warmer in North Pole, Alaska, than it was here).
When we travel, we often think about books to read, restaurants to try, clothes to bring. We might even throw in a hat and some sunscreen. But being weather savvy while traveling is more than just planning for sunburn. Every area of the country has some truly traumatic weather potential that can spring up faster than you can adapt if you are not ready.
How likely is it that you will get caught in a bad weather situation and need any supplies or skill? Not likely. However, it’s sort of like an airbag on a car or a fire extinguisher — you probably won’t need it, but if you do need it, you will REALLY need it.
And you are a smart person (as evidenced by reading this paper) and part of this amazing area, and I want you to come back safe, so let’s make sure you’re ready.
Start by assessment: Ask yourself, “Where am I going and when? What are the weather risks at that time of year? Where am I traveling through on the way to my destination and what will the weather be?” You don’t have to be nervous or frightened; planning and preparing is actually kind of fun. You feel like an explorer of some lost jungle.
Look at the weather (west and south, especially). Check once or twice a day as you drive, especially if there are big weather fronts coming through.
Weather types and (very minimum) preparation:
1. Ice and snow: DECENT CLOTHING including actual warm shoes, mittens, hat, coat. A snow scraper, hand warmers, a blanket in case you have to spend the night in your car.
2. Flooding: Knowledge (turn around, don’t drown). You don’t know the flood prone areas of where you are or the dips and bends in the road. Just stay away from water over the road. Also, the water might just be a couple inches over the asphalt, but you don’t know if the soil is worn out under the road.
3. Fire: Avoidance — don’t risk it! But grass fires can pop up unexpectedly, so have a map with alternate routes in case you’re caught. ALWAYS have a fire extinguisher in your car. If you do have to abandon your car, pull it off the road if you can do it safely so emergency vehicles can get through.
4. Severe weather: A way to be alerted, a plan to get off the road (hint: never go under an overpass. It works like a wind tunnel). If you are stuck away from structures, get out of the car and into the lowest point (usually a ditch).
5. Heat: Fluids for you and your vehicle, cool packs that are made for injuries (very inexpensive at stuff mart).
Gear! More Gear!
1. A road atlas: A lot of us rely on Google maps, but what if you don’t have cell service or have to pull off your route due to road blockage? A road atlas, that amazing book of knowledge from back in the day when we rode in the rear of the station wagon, is still being published and incredibly useful.
2. Water: Just carry it. Even if you are going through the swamp, you need water. And don’t just take one water bottle per person. A case of water is less than $5, even if you spring for the good stuff. There have been too many incidents of a family of 4 having to share half a bottle of water in the desert for 2 days.
3. Food: For many reasons. But honestly if you’re going on vacation and the entire back seat isn’t filled with road trip snacks, do you even travel, bro?
4. Phone apps: Download the local weather apps for your trip — you can delete them when you get back home if you want. Make sure to turn on alert notifications. Also keep track of road conditions with a DOT app.
Again, will you need this stuff? Most likely no (except the food and water). However, it never hurts to be prepared!
By: Stephanie Reynolds, Athens-Limestone Tourism Association
January 3, 2025
