Ten Tips to Survive Winter in Minnesota

People often ask me what I miss about living in the U.S. Well, there’s one thing I DON’T miss: Minnesota winters. As temperatures dip below zero Celsius here in Europe (in the 30s Celsius), people are whinging about the frost and cold. Ah, if they only knew what winter was like in Minnesota.

First, it gets cold. Really cold! The state Department of Natural Resources has reported the coldest windchill temperatures in Minneapolis at -87 degrees Fahrenheit, or -67 with the new formula.  For my European friends, that’s -66.1 and -55 degrees Celsius! You can throw a cup of boiling water in the air and it immediately turns to snow before it hits the ground. Yes, I’ve tried it!

I’ll never forget the evening I went out for a photo shoot. It was so cold that my camera froze. I thought I’d pop back to my car to warm up. Nope, that wasn’t an option because my lock was frozen as was my key fob. Okay, how about a quick call to AAA? That would have been fine if my phone hadn’t frozen, too. What’s a girl to do? Hop into a local bar and borrow someone’s phone charger, warm up, and tackle the problem again. 

So, how can you survive a Minnesota winter? Here are 10 tips:

#1 – Have a Sturdy Shovel, Salt and a Snowblower

Be prepared. It’s the Girl Scout credo. Keep a shovel, chains, salt, sand, and maybe even some boards or thick cardboard in your car trunk. I hear that kitty litter works, too. You never know when you will be stuck in the snow. It happened to me once. It’s not pretty! An AAA membership isn’t a bad idea either for those times you can’t get your car out of a mess yourself. For your home, a snowblower is a good investment. It makes life so much easier.

#2 – Fuel Up First

Never wash your car immediately before you fill the gas tank in winter. That access point to your gas tank will be frozen shut! Fuel up, then wash.

#3 – Wear Layers

What’s the secret to staying warm? Layers, and lots of them! I bought warm, down vests and coats, Bogs boots that keep my toes warm to 130, super warm hats and face masks, thermal underclothes, and hand and foot warmers.

#4 – Buy Ice Grippers

If you are out and about in the winter, a good pair of ice grippers is an excellent idea. I used mine to walk on Lake Superior to visit the ice caves in nearby Wisconsin. It was a great investment. The metal grips give you a firm footing on icy surfaces. Just remember to take them off before you go inside so you don’t go flying on stone or linoleum floors.

#5 – Be Careful at Long Stop Lights

Ever get stuck at a traffic light? We all have. In sub-zero temperatures, it takes on a whole new dimension. Not only does exhaust freeze, but ice can drip off the car in front of you leaving an icy patch on the road. It will have you say extra prayers for an early arrival of spring.

Black ice can be deadly. I’ve hit a patch on the highway and had my car spin 360 degrees. Can you say terrifying? There are times when staying off the road is a good idea. Watch your local weather forecasts.

#6 – Invest in a UV Daylamp

Those long nights and gray skies can make you blue. Look into an ultraviolet lamp. They are reported to help reduce seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and depression. I know that I have been sleeping much better since spending 15-30 minutes a day in front of mine.

#7 – Find Outdoor Activities

While sitting at home in front of the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate and a book can be nice, it gets a bit old. Luckily, I found a hardy hikers group on MeetUp. We went out in the most dreadful conditions but layered up to keep toasty. I even learned to snowshoe. It made winter more bearable.

#8 – Take Advantage of Closed Walkways

If you are in Minneapolis, forget about walking outdoors. The city has an excellent network of covered, above-road walkways that take you from building to building without venturing into the cold and ice.

#9 – Have a Good Selection of Books

For those dreadful days, you can always hunker down and read. A spicy thriller will take your mind off the weather and let you escape to another destination, at least in your mind.

#10 – Keep a Sense of Humor

You have to keep a sense of humor during the winter. I was on the phone one morning with a friend from California and heard a loud popping sound. I rushed downstairs to discover a burst pipe! Luckily, I knew where the shut-off valve was so damage was limited. 

I spent seven years in the frozen tundra. I still can’t believe it. Not only is Minnesota cold in the winter, but after living most of my life in the metropolitan New York City area, I can say the people can be cold, too. There is something called “Minnesota Nice.” Generally speaking, people are quite courteous and outwardly friendly, but there is a certain Scandinavian style of reserve, which can sometimes seem passive-aggressive. You can live there for 25 years and still be an outsider, as many of my relocated friends have told me. Sometimes, it can take 5-10 before a neighbor says hello or a colleague invites you over for dinner if it happens at all. But, like winter, you’ll learn to survive it, enjoy life, and make lifelong friends.