All posts tagged driving in bad weather

Extreme weather conditions can be scary experiences for many people. They can also be expensive experiences if your car is left to battle the elements without protection. There are different ways to protect your vehicle for each type of extreme weather condition.

Snow

Snow is a frustrating obstacle that plagues three months on average out of your year. Ice and snow covering your vehicle are time-consuming issues that you experience during winter weather. Heated windshield wipers will keep your windshield from freezing over. You can also invest in a windshield washer heater to heat your windshield washer fluid to help melt ice. Of course, a frozen windshield is the least of your problems when facing severe snow. Slippery roads from ice, slush, or even just powdery snow on the surface can cause you to lose control of your vehicle as your tires lose grip. Snow chains and tires, therefore, are important for those who frequently drive in snowy conditions, especially in mountain areas where the snow plows don’t always get to before you do.

Hail

Hail is a weather condition that can cause severe damage to your car. It can shatter your vehicle’s windows and dent the frame. There are multiple ways that you can protect your car from these damages. If your car is parked at home, keep it inside the garage. If you don’t have a garage, throw a heavy cover over your vehicle as an added layer of protection. If you’re driving your car during a hail storm, try to pull into a large parking garage or park under a nearby tree. Should your car become dented or damaged in any way, look into auto hail damage repair shops in the area, especially for any severe dents or cracks in your windshield.

Sun

Drivers who live in desert or other extreme-sun areas understand the severe and persistent damage that constant and direct sunlight can cause to vehicles. It can cause the interior upholstery of a car to fade and will bleach the paint on the exterior of a car. More than cosmetic damage, however, direct exposure to sunlight will also cause the inside of your car to become unbearably hot. This can actually melt or warp plastic and leather surfaces, and even cause damage to the inner workings of your car at certain temperatures. A car cover will filter out damaging UV rays, and a tarp over the top will shield the metal of your car from turning your vehicle into an oven that cooks itself from the inside-out. The added shade provided by covers can also protect your tires from melting on the pavement.

Wind

Extremely windy conditions, like the ones created during a hurricane, tornado, monsoon, or other extreme weather can utterly destroy your car. Trash, street debris, and other items can be blown into your car or through your windows. Vehicles should always be stored in a garage during extremely windy weather. If that’s not an option but you know an extreme storm is coming, try to shield it by parking it along the side of your house that can shield it, at least partially, from the wind, and find secure chains and tarps to provide protection and security to your vehicle during the worst of the wind. If you are facing these extreme winds, it is also extremely important that you not drive during them, as the wind can actually knock your car over or force it off-course.

A car is a very important and expensive investment that needs to be properly protected. While extreme weather conditions don’t come up every day, they can often come up unexpectedly and cause severe damage to your vehicle. Tarps and covers are great ways to protect your vehicle from damage and should be purchased in advance, along with other weather-specific driving equipment to prevent costly repairs later on.