13 Things No One Tells You About Surviving A Wisconsin Winter

Winter in Wisconsin can be brutal. Heck, most years, we see snow before winter officially begins. Most of us are accustomed to Wisconsin winters and the seasons’ plummeting temps, so, transitioning to winter mode comes as second nature. However, lots of people seem to need a reminder. Whether you’re new to Wisconsin or just plain live in denial about the cold and snow, here are some reminders about what it takes to survive winter in Wisconsin.

Flickr/OrenViriyincy

We've had more extreme cold days off than we have snow days in the past decade or so. Either way, even though you really, really want that free day, we're kind of used to all the winter weather and we sort of just grin, bear it and move on with our day.

Flickr/PetkoPessakov

When the weatherman tells you not to go outside with exposed skin, he's not kidding. Far more concerning than snow or cold weather is the biting wind chill. You'll only ever underestimate it once.

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Flickr/Endlisnis

Did you know they could go that way? Letting your windshield wipers freeze to your windshield not only makes them less effective in the future, but it is going to make you late for wherever you were headed because you can't effectively scrape the glass and it takes a long while for the defroster to kick in and do the trick.

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Flickr/DafneCholet

Winter in Wisconsin can be pretty unpredictable. In past years, we went from 80 degrees to snowing within a week. It could be 60 in January and snow in April. Don't put those boots away until June, basically, if ever.

Flickr/Pereckas

Listen, this one seems obvious, but we think folks who only go to and from their home to their car forget that other people use those sidewalks regularly. Once folks trample over fresh snow, you're not getting that icy mess up without some serious muscle and if you don't ever shovel, you're kind of a jackhole and everyone in your neighborhood is secretly seething.

Flickr/Alexandra Bellink

The most likely spot this will happen is at the end of your driveway after the plow comes through. You'll think your sedan can handle that little hill of snow and then you'll find out that you were very, very wrong. Hey, it wouldn't be a true Wisconsin winter without a few mishaps.

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Flickr/Julie Falk

This can be especially scary on the interstate because you will have no idea where the lane lines are. Those are merely suggestions during winter in Wisconsin - stick to the already-made tracks and brace yourself when you have to turn or change lanes.

Flickr/HighwaysAgency

By the end of winter, you'll have enough extra clothes, hats, gloves, blankets, and more in your car you could survive a few days away from home. Not only do they just seem to accumulate, but you also don't want to be caught without those things if your car breaks down. Extra gas, jumper cables, a shovel, and, of course, half your wardrobe will become winter trunk staples.

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Flickr/SergeyValyonkin

You will get ticketed. And you'll also have your car get buried by the plow, possibly dinged by it and generally it will be an unpleasant experience. Figure out what your city deems a snow emergency and park accordingly.

10. Learn to know when ice is really, really frozen.


During the winter season, plenty of ice-covered lakes transform into alternate routes of transportation in the winter, but as a bunch of visitors learned in Lake Geneva in 2016, that's only a smart idea if you can be absolutely positive that the lakes are, you know, actually frozen solid.

Flickr/PJ Nelson

Doesn't matter if they've been living here 50 years, the first sign of the white stuff gives everyone amnesia and driving becomes even more of a nightmare.

Flickr/RianneLund

You need good boots. Like really good, expensive, warm, waterproof boots. They're not going to be fashionable, but you won't lose any toes, so it's a fair trade-off if you ask us.

Facebook/DoorCountySledDogs

Go outside! Embrace the snow and cold and find one of the hundreds of awesome things to see and do in Wisconsin during the winter. You won't regret it!

So, do you agree? Are these the keys to surviving winter in Wisconsin? Do you have any tips about Wisconsin winters to add to this list? What are your favorite parts of the winter season? What are your least favorite parts of the winter season? Share your thoughts with us; we want to hear from you!

And though we all dread winter in Wisconsin to some extent, there are tons of fun things to do during the season. “Like what?” you ask. Well, you could check out an old-school ice castle in Wisconsin, head to the most amazing winter park in Wisconsin, or enjoy some quintessential winter activities in Wisconsin. The possibilities for wintertime fun are virtually endless in the Badger State, making it the perfect place to celebrate the season!