When the Roads are Rather Frightful...

Let's face it, we all have places that we have to be. Whether you need to go to work, school, or run errands around town, there is a time when you have to venture out into the winter weather. But how do you know if your vehicle can handle the roads and keep your family and yourself safe? I've done some research and have compiled a list of Do's and Don'ts for driving in the winter time. I hope that it will help you to stay safe this season when you are traveling.

Let's Start with the Don'ts of Traveling in Inclement Weather:

• Don't drive when you are fatigued. Make sure you are fully rested and alert when you get behind the wheel, or try carpooling with a friend. 
• Don't let your gas tank get below half-full. A low tank can lead to the gas line freeze-up, so make sure you make a stop at the gas station before parking your car overnight.
• Avoid using cruise control. It can be dangerous to use this feature on wet, icy, and sandy surfaces. 
• Don't warm up your vehicle in a garage or enclosed area.
• Don't stop on a hill. It is difficult to start going on a sloped surface, especially when it is icy. Also, avoid stopping in most situations. Determine if it is possible to safely coast forward as you wait for the light to change without having to fully stop.
• Don't spin your wheels if you get stuck in the snow--it will dig your vehicle deeper into the snow. 
• Don't leave your car unless you know where you are (if you get stranded). You are more likely to be found on the side of the road than if you are walking through a storm in an unknown area. 
• Don't feel pressured to always keep up with the speed limit. Use your own judgement and go slower if the weather is harsh. Police are likely to pull an aggressive driver over in the winter time, even if he is driving at the speed limit or below.

Now, the Do's:

• Make sure your car is in good working condition. Get a tuneup, check the tires, brakes, battery, coolant, and wipers.
• Always carry supplies for emergencies: flashlight and batteries, non-perishable foods, tire chains, cell phone, compass, first aid kit, ice scraper, matches, reflective triangles and brightly-colored cloth to attract attention. 
• Clean off your car fully before driving anywhere. Make sure your lights are uncovered and you have full use of your windshields and mirrors. 
• Carry sandbags in the back of your car for added weight.
• Accelerate and Decelerate slowly. Rushing is very dangerous this time of year--watch out for black ice and out-of-control drivers. Don't try to speed up a hill either. 
• Always look ahead. Be aware of other drivers and of upcoming traffic signals. 
• Always, always, always buckle up! Although it is state law to wear a seat belt, it is even more important to do so in the winter time. You may be the safest winter driver in the world--but there are others on the road, too. This is an easy way to keep you and your family safe.
• Slow down before turning or going on curves. Sure, your car may do fine on that curvy mountain road on a sunny day in May, but it can be very hazardous in the winter. Slow down, make sure no other vehicles are coming your way, and proceed with caution.
• Keep both hands on the wheel, preferably at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. 
• Though the normal following distance is 3-4 seconds, this should be increased to 8-10 seconds in the winter to ensure that you have ample space to stop. 
• Be aware of your location and have specific directions when traveling in the snow. 
• Stay home if at all possible and use caution when traveling.

Enjoy the beautiful snow and have a happy, safe remainder of the winter.

Please comment with any additional Winter Driving suggestions that you may have!

Check out these links for additional tips:

Weather.com        AAA      CarTalk.com      The Chicago Tribune

Snow, Snow, Snow..

With the weather warming up outside for so long, I almost believed the winter to be over. Now, the forecast calls for a snow storm lasting the rest of the week! These zero golf ball days are hard, but they are impossible without a Four Wheel or All Wheel Drive vehicle. With a set of studded snow tires and a 4x4, even a Boone Blizzard can't stop me! I love being able to shop, go to the slopes, and run errands even when the weather outside is.. well, let's just say it's not too pretty. 

Having a 4 Wheel Drive allows me to spend more time with my family because we have the opportunity to get out of the house and have fun and then return home later safely and cozy up by the fire. I don't know what we would do without a reliable vehicle when we live and work in these beautiful, though sometimes treacherous, mountains. 

I love living here--the people are so kind and polite, the scenery is breathtaking, and the atmosphere is great for my family--but having a vehicle that you can depend on is essential for thriving in these winter months. At University Nissan we have a great selection of New and Used vehicles that are great for the winter. Especially since, as we have to admit, it is far from over. Come in and speak with our friendly sales staff, or bring your own vehicle in for some easy winter additions in our Service Department. Remember, we service all makes and models. 

I hope that you had a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year. Best wishes for 2011, and we hope to see you here at University Nissan. 

Wooly Worm Predicts Winter Weather

The Man Vs. The Worm

Concord resident Cole Peurifoy, 5, holds Woolly Worm Jack, this year’s winter weather predictor. According to Jack’s stripes, snow is expected through the holidays into late January; severe cold and snow is expected at the end of winter.

Weather Guru Ray Russell, Woolly Worm Jack Predict Winter Weather
Story by Anne Baker

Concord resident Cole Peurifoy, 5, holds Woolly Worm Jack, this year’s winter weather predictor. According to Jack’s stripes, snow is expected through the holidays into late January; severe cold and snow is expected at the end of winter.

It’s something many High Country residents will think at least once during the coming winter: what kind of snowman will we see on Ray Russell’s site, www.raysweather.com?

Russell, the founder of the site, transformed a hobby into something about 250,000 people read per month for their weather news—and now, his 10th Winter Fearless Forecast has been released, prepping the public for a winter that many are hoping will not be as harsh as last year.

As famous as Russell’s forecast is, however, he has a competitor: Woolly Worm Jack, the winner of the races at the Woolly Worm Festival held this month in Banner Elk.

How do the two forecasts compare? While both predict snow and temperatures common to winter, there are key differences.

The Fearless Forecast

Raysweather.com predicts less-than-normal snow and overall temperatures about 1 degree above normal.

The areas on the western upslope of the Appalachians—those right along the Tennessee and Virginia state line—may have relatively more snow than the rest of the Southern Appalachians. This is because more of the snow is expected to come from Northwest flow events, which is different than last year, when most of the snow came from Gulf and Nor’Easter lows.

Boone is expected to see 32 inches of snow and ice; Banner Elk, 38 inches; and Beech Mountain, 75 inches.

To put that into perspective, last year, Boone saw 83.6 inches of snow and ice, and Beech Mountain saw 134.3 inches, according to www.raysweather.com. “The first thing that anybody looks at that’s doing seasonal forecasting is the ocean temperature,” Russell said. “The oceans are the great storehouses for heat and energy on the planet.”

This involves analyzing the state of El Niño and La Niña—and strong La Niña conditions exist now and are said to hold through the winter, which are characterized in the Southern Appalachians by drier-than-normal weather with temperatures slightly above normal.

“Then the thing that’s harder is looking into the Atlantic,” he said. “It’s harder because that changes more frequently than the Pacific and is less predictable long term in that regard. It’s a lot of looking at patterns and looking at how the weather tends to behave, especially in oceans.”

Russell also looks at polar ice conditions and current weather trends.

How confident is Russell with his forecast?

“In terms of less-than-normal snow and warmer temperatures, we have higher-than-normal confidence,” Russell said. “In terms of what side of normal it’s going to be on, we’re highly confident in that.”

The Fearless Forecast is independent of other seasonal forecasts such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and international forecast services, but is in general agreement with them, he said.

To read the entire forecast, click to www.booneweather.com/Fearless+Forecast.

The Woolly Worm

Woolly Worm Jack, trained by 5-year-old Cole Peurifoy of Concord, begins his predictions starting with the winter solstice on Tuesday, December 21. Based on the width and order of the caterpillar’s black and brown stripes, cold and snowy weather is expected through the holidays and into late January.

Beginning in the last week of January, there will be a bit of a warming trend; the first week of February will see a change with possible ice. The cold will continue through March, which is expected to see less-than-normal temperatures; the weeks leading to the spring equinox on March 20, 2011 will see the winter close with lots of snow.

To read Jack’s winter predictions, click to www.woollyworm.com.

Ray’s Expected Snow and Ice Totals

Asheville.......................................11 inches
Banner Elk....................................38 inches
Beech Mountain............................75 inches
Boone............................................32 inches
Hickory..........................................7 inches
Jefferson and West Jefferson.........24 inches
Lenoir............................................7 inches
Morganton.....................................8 inches
Sparta............................................22 inches
Spruce Pine...................................20 inches
Sugar Mountain............................68 inches
Waynesville..................................14 inches
Wilkesboro...................................10 inches

Woolly Worm Jack’s Week-by-Week Predictions

Week Number            Body Segment Color                                Forecast
1........................................Black......................................................Cold & Snow
2........................................Black......................................................Cold & Snow
3........................................Black......................................................Cold & Snow
4........................................Black......................................................Cold & Snow
5........................................Dark Brown With a Black Spot.............Possible Ice Storm
6........................................Brown....................................................Cold
7........................................Brown....................................................Cold
8........................................Brown....................................................Cold
9........................................Brown....................................................Cold
10......................................Brown....................................................Cold
11......................................Brown....................................................Cold
12......................................Black......................................................Severe Cold & Snow

This Article is Presented to You By University Nissan of Boone, North Carolina: A New and Used Car Dealer.