The first major snowfall of the winter fell Sunday and Monday, Dec. 13 and 14, in the Verde Valley.
Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek were hit with the bulk of the storm, which dropped snow to about 4,000 feet. While the Camp Verde and Cottonwood areas got mostly rain and only a sprinkling of snow at higher elevations, drivers should be extra cautious as this snowstorm only marks the beginning of the winter weather that should hit over the next few months.
Meteorologists predict an extremely strong El Niño, which means wetter and warmer wether, but when that moisture hits below-freezing temperatures, the snowfall will be heavier than normal.
Here are some driving tips to remember:
If your tires start to slip, don’t panic and slam on the brakes, which removes any traction from your tires, causing you to lose control your vehicle. Instead, ease off the gas and let the vehicle maintain traction and slow down on its own. When reaching a corner, ease off the brake and let the tire traction carry you through the turn.
While four-wheel drive vehicles perform better in snow, don’t let it give you a false sense of control or safety. A slick road or one covered in black ice can still be dangerous whether your vehicle has two or four wheels trying to get traction.
It may not snow at your home, but you may drive to areas thick with deep snow, so carry a snow shovel and cat litter to dig your vehicle out should you drive off the road or get snowed in.
Drive slowly. There’s no reason to race up to the speed limit when road conditions are snowy. You can lose control on easy turns or normally safe stretches and careen into ditches, sidewalks or oncoming traffic.
Plan your routes ahead of time. While you may get to work or home on hilly or curvy stretches of road, if there are straighter or flatter routes, even if they are thicker with traffic, consider taking those to avoid the risk of spinning out or stalling. Combine several errands into just one so you can spend less time on the road. Make sure you have a full gas tank in case you get stranded on the side of the road and have to spend time digging out your vehicle.
Make sure your windows are clear of snow and ice before you drive. You will want to be able to see all the risks to your vehicle before you hit the road. Carry an ice scraper in your vehicle.
Most importantly, do not follow too closely. Your four-wheel drive, high-clearance vehicle may have snow tires or chains but the tourist in the Toyota Prius with Florida plates ahead of you may have no snow-driving skills. Allow plenty of distance so the vehicle ahead can maneuver or get traction should they start to slide backward when a stoplight turns green.
