If one thing in life is certain, it’s that you can’t predict the weather, especially when it’s winter in central Texas. You can, however, obsessively track it up to 10 days before you move and prepare accordingly. Rain, sleet, snow, hail, freezing temperatures, warm sunshine – they’re all possible if you’re moving in Austin from December to March.
Moving During A Winter Rain
- Keep your rain jackets and umbrellas close at hand. If they’ve already been packed up bust them back out.
- Break out the tarps. Cover furniture and secure the tarps in place either with bungee cords or painters tape.
- Watch out for wet cardboard. When moving boxes get wet they lose their structural integrity and everything inside can come tumbling out. Keep them out of the elements as much as possible and hold the boxes from the bottom.
- Keep towels and shammies close by.
- Protect the floors from mud. Put down doormats and lay cardboard boxes or an old rug in the entryway, especially if there’s carpet.
Sleet and Snow
- Create a safe walkway from the truck to your door. Lay down cardboard or old carpet to keep people from slipping on icy surfaces.
- Be very cautious on the roads, which may be iced over. Avoid overpasses whenever possible, drive slow and be cautious at every intersection.
- Dress in warm layers. That way you can peel off your outerwear if you work up a sweat moving.
- Prepare warm beverages like coffee and tea for yourself and the movers. A hot drink does wonders for keeping people warm when it’s cold out.
- Once you’re settled into your new, warm home there’s still one more thing to do to keep the cold at bay. Before bedtime leave a faucet or two dripping to ensure your pipes don’t freeze over.
Handling Hail
- If there’s a chance of hail postpone your moving unless it’s absolutely necessary. Call your moving company and discuss your options for rescheduling.
- Hailstorms typically only last anywhere from a few to 15 minutes. If it begins to hail during the middle of your move take cover and wait it out.
- Hail can make driving hazardous. If it begins to hail while you’re driving pull over, preferably in a place that provides coverage. If it’s already hailed be aware that the roads could be wet and slick. Give yourself plenty of braking distance, keep your headlights on and maintain slow speeds.
- Move trucks and vehicles as close to your house as possible when you’re loading and unloading. If you have a garage pull vehicles under its cover and back the moving trucks up as close as possible to the garage door.
With these tips you should be able to weather the weather no matter what Mother Nature throws at you.