Texan Moving to Maryland. How Prepared for the Cold Should He Be?

I went from Maryland (DC Area) to Texas to Virginia (DC Area) I always thought it was cold growing up, now that I'm back from Texas after 4 years, it's really cold. Remember the ice/snow storm in 2011 when Dallas hosted the Super Bowl, it's that cold a lot, and we do get ice/snow storms. However, the state as a whole is better prepared to clear roads and get towns up and running. As for car owners, we often see that people who have 4 Wheel Drive or SUVs think they are invincible in the ice/snow. Big trucks slide just as easily as cars. Trucks are harder to stop in ice and it seems to be my experience when there is a storm, it's often SUVs that are in the most accidents. Now if he is in the DC Area, there is a very good mass transit system. The DART has nothing on the Metro. There are many more stations and bus stops in the Area, there are commuter buses that bring people that live outside the DC Area into DC. I know a lot of DC Area people think the Metro is awful and you will hear bad things about it. As someone who commuted on both the Metro and the DART, I'd take the Metro any day of the week, problems and all.

Maryland gets a true mix of weather. We have hot humid summers and cold winters, and everything in between! Average in the winter I would say is mid 40s. So its cold, but not crazy cold. There will be days in the 30s and days in the 50s too. We usually get a handful of snow events each year. Its really hit or miss though. Last year we bearly had any snow at all(never even used the kids snow boots or sled) but the year before that we had 2 blizzards! (blizzards are somewhat unsual here, maybe 1 every 7-10 years). He will need a nice warm coat and good gloves to wear with jeans and sweatshirt. Hat helps too. Warm shoes are good but I would not worry about any actual snow gear or snow boots unless he plans to get into skiiing or something, they are just not used that much in our day to day to make the purchase worth it (most years!). As far as cars, its nice to have the 4 wheel drive when it snows but frankly its so hit or miss, it does not make sense to buy a 4wd unless that is what you want to buy regarldless of weather. Its best just to stay home for a day and let it melt! Maryland is good about treating the roads (we use salt) and quickly clearing the snow when it happens. We dont do chains on tires or anything like that, there is just not enough snow to justify it. I think he will really enjoy the area! There is a ton to do being so close to Baltimore, Annapolis, DC and 2 hours to Philly or 4 to NY. For a care package? Send him some Maryland Terps gear and some Ravens NFL gear, and also send him some matches to burn his Cowboys gear if he has any, LOL! :0)

It's a bit chilly in the winter. 30s are common, 20s are not unheard of. Driving conditions are not horrible, generally. Depends on where you are moving to. The DC area goes all AAAHAHAHAHAH when there's even a little snow, but other areas may be more sane. He needs a good cold weather coat, gloves, scarf, hat. He might also consider boots - for the cold if not slush. But he might not need true snow boots. I'm actually going to buy snow boots since I can keep them for years. You can never find them when you need them.

If he commutes by mass transit, boots and a backpack and a good coat with a hood, IMO. Some years we get very little/no snow. Some years we get squashed. There's more ice than in more northern states. For his car, I'd put a small emergency kit inside. Some deicer. A good scraper. Flares. A spare blanket.

My car is not 4wd but does pretty well in the snow. I don't use snow tires.

Much of it depends on what part of Maryland...

My daughter lives in Baltimore, just a few blocks from the harbor...... She lives in an older row house with really bad insulation, so their house tends to be pretty cold during the winter. I think they typically get about 2' of snow in an entire winter, except for one year recently, where they got 4 major snowstorms... with about 20" in EACH storm! They posted pictures of the snow piled about 2-3 ft deep by their back door......

We've lived in Texas for 20 years, now... near Austin.

Yes, it will be cold.... but she's been there for 6 years.

As far as cars, be sure it is in GOOD condition..... the Maryland testing requirements can be real strict! Depending on where they live, parking can be a nightmare.... it is pretty frustrating for where they live... they may end up parking several blocks away from their house.

From the descriptions so far, Winter in Maryland is like Autumn or Spring here in Minnesota! But, it still will be an adjustment for someone who's used to TX and CA.

The important thing about driving in the cold is to wear, or bring, a coat/hat/mittens/boots warm enough to walk or wait in the cold for awhile, just in case. Even here, we sometimes take for granted a heated car and arriving at our heated destination with no issues. Have these things along, just in case. And a windshield scraper, always!! And a charged cell phone.

Otherwise, he'll need a few sweatshirts/sweaters, coat, and boots. Boots are for keeping feet warm and dry, no matter how much snow. He might want to wait and buy these things once he gets there, as they should be readily available and he'll know which styles are popular.

WHERE in Maryland is he moving??

Western Maryland - by West Virginia and Ohio?? In the hills?

Patuxent River/Southern Maryland?

Ocean City, MD?

Bethesda, Potomac, Gaithersburg, Ellicot City, Germantown, Frederick?

I'm not trying to be snotty - really - but MD is a big state - it's spread out and has VERY different regions. It helps to know WHERE he is moving to.

here's a link to the MD DMV...
http://www.mva.maryland.gov/Vehicle-Services/REG/NewtoMd.htm

I was visiting some Texans one January. It was about 66-68 degrees one evening, and my husband and I were eating on the back porch. Someone came outside and asked us increduously, "Aren't you cold?" That was hilarious, because they were serious.

Make sure you put low-temp windshield wiper fluid in the car, so that it doesn't freeze. Ice scrapers are essential, and a "survival" pack for the car is a good idea, too. All-weather tires, too. If he has a driveway, he'll need de-icing salt and a snow shovel. And a membership in AAA for emergencies.

Get several pairs of good quality gloves. The kind that don't get wet easily. Gloves always get themselves lost. And all the standard winter clothing.

I went from California to Maryland (now live in Texas) and yes, that first winter was quite cold! My husband got me a everything I needed for Christmas. He'll do fine with the right "equipment." I suggest a scarf, knit hat, lined gloves and snow boots. Plus a fleece and a heavy winter coat.

Good luck! I loved Maryland! So beautiful. It's where I experienced my first white Christmas.

It's cold. Unbearable. I have not found a coat yet that really works. It's a damp cold. Having lived in the DC area, I found they didn't salt or plow much at all. Thus, I didn't leave the house at all if there was even a flurry. One time I did in a DUSTING and the car slid. So I never could go to the store or anywhere. I couldn't stand my husband commuting in that, never knowing if he was OK. We eventually moved. Then, living in Michigan where it's colder and snowier? Easy because they salt and plow. We've lived all over and if you don't have to drive, don't go out in snow is my best advice.

We lived in Maryland from 1985-1989. Maryland has a real winter, unlike Texas where we just have several sporadic days of it. There was at least once a year where there was a foot of snow on the ground. The most we ever had at once was about 28 inches. The highway department is prepared for real winter weather unlike Dallas so the roads are not usually a problem. He will need real winter clothes - better than you need in Texas, but not as bad as say Minnesota. Cold winter days in Maryland are like the coldest winter days here in Dallas - but in Maryland there are many more of them over the winter season.