Winter is coming.
The National Weather Service forecasts the first snow of the season in the Twin Cities Tuesday night and the snowflake emoji has made its triumphant return to my phone's weather app.
But are we ready for it? Did the year without winter make us forget how to dress for the cold? One expert says Minnesotans have been doing it wrong all along.
Susan Hendrickson-Schurke, founder of Wintergreen Northern Wear, says to keep the three W's in mind:
Wicking
Your base layer is meant to capture moisture and keep your skin dry, Hendrickson-Schurke says. That's why you'll want to avoid cotton, which traps moisture. You will also want to make sure to wear something that fits comfortably — not too loose, not too tight.
“That next-to-skin layer holds that immediate warmth to your body and it also wicks moisture away,” Hendrickson-Schurke said.
Wool and synthetics work well.
Warmth
This layer — or layers — should help you trap air and bulk up to stay warm. Vests and fleece jackets are the name of the game.
Wind
Finally, you'll want an outer layer that protects against the wind. You know how sometimes you'll look at the forecast and it'll say it's 25 degrees out but feels like 15 degrees because of the wind?
Hendrickson-Schurke prefers nylon to GORE-TEX or other materials made to repel rain. That's because the latter may also trap moisture inside.
Reporter Greta Kaul has the rest of Hendrickson-Schurke's tips at the link below. We've also added a couple more essential weather stories to help you prepare for the coming cold.
(I've got a blanket and roadside kit in my trunk already and I'm picking up a fresh box of cat litter this afternoon.)
