Moving to a cold climate has many advantages… but it can also prove to be a real shock to the body when you’re moving from a warm state to a cold state for the first time.
In reality, there are certain dangers when living in a cold climate so you have to be aware of those cold-weather risks.
Here are the top 7 things you must know when moving to a cold stay so that you can enjoy the colder climate while staying perfectly safe.
Are you excited about your upcoming move to a cold state?
Moving to a cold climate has a number of advantages that can’t be disputed: much fewer insects or bugs, a reduced number of allergies, better sleep, and a myriad of fun outdoor activities in the snow.
However, when moving from a warm climate to a cold climate for the first time, there are a number of risks and threats as well – cold-climate dangers that you must know about well before you complete the house move.
Here are the most critical 7 things to know when moving to a cold state – Alaska, North Dakota, Maine, Minnesota, Wyoming, Montana, Vermont, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, etc. – in order to stay safe and to keep everyone around you safe and sound, including your pet animals.
1. Proper winter clothing is a must
Moving to a cold state automatically means that you’re going to have to spend a bunch of money on winter gear. There’s really no way around it – proper winter clothing will make you feel warm and cozy while keeping you from getting frostbitten during the coldest months of the year.
When moving to a cold climate, one of the very first things you need to buy is a good waterproof down jacket with a hood to keep you warm in the cold weather of your destination state. High-quality parkas can be expensive but it’s an investment that you won’t regret when temperatures drop severely in wintertime.
Look for good deals on warm parkas after Christmas, if that’s ever an option for you – January is usually the period when reputable brands tend to have great sales on those large windproof jackets.
Besides a really warm parka, make sure you also get a variety of other warm winter clothing that’s made predominantly from wool: socks, sweaters, gloves or mittens, a hat, and a scarf.
Proper winter clothing and footwear are must-haves when moving to a colder state.
Moving to a cold climate means that you’ll need outstanding winter boots as well.
Now, one thing you have to understand when shopping for boots is that you’ll need to set fashion aside and go for maximum warmth and comfort, even if that means getting the ugliest pair of snow boots they have on sale.
If unsure what type of winter boots to get when planning to live in cold weather, here are the three most critical criteria that should help you choose a good pair:
Insulation. You need warm boots that will keep your feet well-insulated from the freezing temperatures outside.
Waterproofness. No water from melting or melted snow should get into your boots, period.
Rubber soles. You need your winter shoes to have rubber soles with deep threads on them. The rubber soles provide excellent protection from the salt (salt is known to discolor and corrode leather).
3. More blankets equal better sleep
Many people who move from hot to cold weather don’t realize right away that light bed sheets won’t really work well in your destination town or city. So you too may find it hard to get comfortably warm at night for a good night’s sleep even when you have the heating turned on.
Therefore, one thing to consider when moving to a cold climate is that you’ll need more warm blankets to get really cozy in bed. Invest in several fluffy blankets and equip each bed with cotton flannel sheets to guarantee a comfy and sweet sleep for each family member.
After moving to a cold climate, you may want to consider wearing a thin nightcap in bed if you still can’t feel warm enough to fall asleep peacefully. Putting on a warm pair of slippers on your feet early in the morning should also help you adjust to the cold climate in the new area.
Do you have what it takes to deal with the snow and ice of the new state during the winter?
After the move, you’re going to have to learn how to live in cold weather too.
Effectively, you have to be ready, both mentally and physically, for snow for several months each year.
And, if you’re moving to a cold state from any of the warm states of the south such as Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, or Mississippi, then you may not know what to expect from cold winters and the sub-zero temperatures and abundance of snow and ice that come with them.
When living in a cold climate, you’ll be forced, willy-nilly, to deal with the cold, snow, and ice. One thing is clear – you’ll have your hands full when moving into a house that’s located in a cold area of the country.
So, you’d better get proper snow removal equipment – at least a good snow shovel – and plan enough time to clear your driveway and walkways from the fallen snow and formed ice. You may have to remove the accumulated snow and set icicles from the roof of your house as well.
When was the last time you had to dig your car out of the snow?
5. Your car needs to be ready for wintertime conditions
When moving to a cold climate with your car, you’ll need to make sure that the vehicle is ready for the cold weather, including the months of wintertime in the destination town or city.
Antifreeze. You’ll need to add antifreeze to prevent the water in the car radiator from freezing up when temperatures outside drop too low.
Motor oil. You’ll need to get motor oil that’s specifically designed for a cold-weather environment. As a rule, the oil has to be thinner than usual to do its job well when it’s really cold outside.
Tires. Naturally, you’ll want to have specialized winter tires on your car when driving in wintertime conditions – the special rubber compound and deep thread patterns on winter tires do impact how well the vehicle behaves on snow and ice. Consult your car manual to check what tires are recommended for the winter season.
Battery. Extremely low temperatures can affect car batteries, so you’d better check the battery in your car whether it’s fully charged and whether the fluids are at the level they are supposed to be.
Windshield washer fluid. Don’t forget to top off your windshield washer fluid with antifreeze.
Wiper blades. Consider equipping your car with wiper blades that are specifically designed for harsh winter conditions. Usually, such windshield wipers are more flexible and clean more effectively the buildup of snow or ice on the windshield glass.
Also, moving to a cold state with your car will require that you prepare a survival kit for your vehicle. Such winter survival gear for your car usually includes:
6. You’ll need to learn to stay safe in the cold weather
Once you know how to stay safe in cold-weather conditions, living in a cold state can be a lot of fun.
Cold weather can be dangerous but if you are careful enough and don’t underestimate the cold climate conditions, you should be alright.
First of all, you should try to go out more often in order to get your healthy dose of Vitamin D.
However, when you do leave the protection of your home, make sure you wear warm clothes and have proper winter boots with you that will keep you warm and cozy. Frostbite to your hands or feet is a condition you should avoid at all costs.
Secondly, when the air outside is too cold, avoid doing any active outdoor exercise or activities for prolonged periods of time as you’re not used to living in a cold climate. It’ll take some time for your body to acclimatize to the colder weather, especially the harsh winters in your new town or city, so you should take it slowly at first.
Thirdly, feeling well in the new place often comes down to small details like using moisturizing lotions to protect your skin against the cold and applying lip balm regularly to avoid chapped lips.
When driving your car, check whether the survival kit for your vehicle is with you. Also, make sure there’s one high-quality sleeping bag for each car passenger and extra warm clothes in case you get stuck on the road for a long time with freezing temperatures outside.
Keeping a stash of bottled water and snacks in your vehicle is a great idea as well.
7. Your energy bills will probably be higher than you expect
Another thing to keep in mind when moving to a cold state is that your energy bills are likely to be higher because you’ll need to keep the new home heated for a long time – anywhere between 6 and 8 months depending on the state you move to and the exact location within that destination state.
Ensure that you budget for months and months of higher heating bills when moving to a colder state. Keeping your home properly heated during the cold months of the year is not only about your own comfort – although it mostly is.
By maintaining the in-house temperature in the upper 50s, you won’t have to worry about the water in the plumbing system freezing up and causing some of the pipes to burst – an unexpected money pit when living in a cold climate.
To keep the heat inside and pay less money for heating, ensure that the new home is well insulated. If it’s not, then think about making that new house or apartment more energy-efficient, especially if you’re an owner and not a renter.
Moving to a cold climate requires careful preparation in order to avoid strong headaches along the way. That’s right – moving to a colder state won’t be easy, especially when you know that you’ll have to go through a post-move stage of adjusting to the cold climate in the new place.
Have you already switched to Survival Mode?
Here are some extra tips for moving to a cold climate:
1. Get your cold-weather gear after the move
If you’re not properly equipped for a cold climate when it comes to clothing, boots, and equipment, then you shouldn’t worry about it all until after the move.
Purchasing your cold-weather gear before the move should be a mistake as you’ll need to pack and transport those thick winter clothes and large snow boots that will take A LOT OF SPACE in the moving vehicle.
Your decision to move to a cold climate means that you’ll have to add extra protection for all the items that happen to be sensitive to colder temperatures.
Whenever possible, use reusable plastic containers instead of cardboard boxes – that way, your delicate items will be better protected against the excessive cold and higher humidity in the new area.
Also, add additional layers of bubble wrap when packing temperature-sensitive items for better insulation. Using extra sheets of packing paper when packing delicate belongings is always a good idea too.
3. Help your children and pets acclimatize to the cold climate
Moving to a cold state can be good news for your dog.
When moving with children to a cold state, you’re going to have to help them adjust to living in a colder climate in general.
Most often, that means teaching them how to dress in layers and what type of winter clothing and footwear to wear when the temperatures outside go really low. Proper protection from the cold is critical, and so is being aware of the dangers of the cold weather as a whole.
The same is true when moving with pets to a colder state. While indoor cats should be OK – after all, they will be living in a climate-controlled home, dogs are usually more at risk when spending time outside in freezing temperatures.
Speak with a licensed veterinarian about what you can do to keep your pets safe and happy when moving to a cold climate. Depending on how thick your dog’s fur is, your canine companion may need to wear a special dog’s coat or even dog booties.
When you’re moving to a cold state, there’s a high chance that you’ll be doing a cross-country move to a cold-climate area in the country. And if that’s the case, then you’d better leave the long-distance relocation to experienced movers who know how to keep things safe in any type of climatic conditions.
Use our free Moving Cost Calculator to get in touch with the best cross-country movers in your area.
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