As the winter months roll in, make sure you and your fellow Cougs are following suitable winter protocols to have the best experience during this season. These winter months go all the way from the middle of December to late February, and these conditions may change depending on how the first month of the spring semester goes.

First off, college football is ending, so no need to worry about being too cold at the games. Luckily, WSU is unique with its on-campus features. For those who don’t know, the school has provided us with some heated sidewalks so we won’t be overwhelmed by walking in the snow as much when it falls.  

Vehicle Safety is one of the most essential things for road safety to keep each other safe. Driving in downtown Pullman can be tricky because of smaller streets, especially late at night. It’s vital to go slower when driving around as slush and black ice can be very dangerous for drivers and pedestrians on the road. Black ice is glazed ice covering the roads, which leads drivers to think the roads are clearer than they are. It can cause vehicles to slide. It can be especially dangerous for newer drivers in the area. Watch out for people crossing the street, and don’t forget to put snow tires or chains on your car.  

Attire can be challenging to plan for as the Palouse may be sunny one day and drenched in the snow on the next. On those sunny days, layering too much won’t be the right approach as the sun beats down, and it can feel like 80 degrees. Make sure you are layering to fight the shiver-worthy winter weather. Being too cold can lower your immune system and cause more cold viruses to make their way around the Pullman area. The worse colds get, the probability of the spread of COVID-19 gets worse. To prevent this from happening, make sure to layer appropriately and never forget your winter coat.   

Getting to class can be a huge struggle for students under winter weather conditions. There will be icy days and sunny days. Getting to class may be difficult, especially during the coldest times. Make sure you do what you need to in order to stay motivated. Don’t forget to leave for class early. Going to class earlier than usual during the hardest of the winter months will be helpful as it is very tricky getting around in the snow. Sliding and falling are some of the most significant issues with making it to class once outside.  

Lastly, if you are going away for Christmas break, be prepared to come back to several inches on the ground and around 10-degree weather, or potentially colder. When parking vehicles, do not forget to have a shovel on hand to dig cars out from under the snow. With this in mind, follow these tips and tricks to make your winter go just a little smoother during this time.