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Prepping for an early winter

By Harlee Hunsaker

Prepping for an early winter

It’s the middle of October, so one can expect falling leaves, sweaters, and pumpkin carving.

What people don’t expect is snow, but the snow is here! Due to its early arrival, few people have had time to prepare.

“It snowed today!” energetic 2-year-old Jaxton Frodsham said. The Frodsham family lives in Logan where it snowed 11 inches in the first winter storm.

The Frodsham’s knew the snow was coming, but they were not prepared for how much.

“Since it snowed really early, there were still leaves on the trees…they weren’t strong enough and it snapped,” Jeff Frodsham said. His drive to work was lined with fallen trees.

The snow also ruined their tomatoes and basil in their garden.

“The garden was just smashed, bent in half like flat,” he said.

The power went out for about eight hours which made the winter storm a little colder.

Although the snow has yet to hit Provo, BYU students are not looking forward to the inevitable.

“Not a fan, not a fan,” anthropology student Amanda Wisner said. “It feels like fall is honestly like 2 weeks this season.”

“I know not to drive my wife’s car because her tires are pretty bald,” Joshua Miller said. “I am going to drive my truck.”

It seems too early to put on snow tires, but tire specialist at Les Schwab, Johnathon Gimlin, said it’s not. “Any time after October 15th we can start putting the snow tires on,” he said. Gimlin said if you spend lots of time in the mountains, your car needs snow tires.

“Snow tires come with lots of siping. Siping is all the tiny cuts in the tire which creates better traction,” Gimlin explains.

So whatever winter prep looks like for you, whether that’s putting snow tires on or taking care of your garden, perhaps consider doing it a little earlier this year.