With a winter weather advisory on the horizon, we asked some neighbors in South Lake Tahoe how they prepare for snow and the cold.
"Get your furnaces cleaned, get all your outdoor faucets covered and your hoses put in," said Teri Bowles.
Bowles says you should have a second source of heat in your house in addition to the furnace, and another neighbor agrees that hoses shouldn't be left out.
"If you leave hoses connected, they'll freeze back and break. There's a little plug in there that breaks," said Francis Rider.
If you need to leave the house, folks say you should prepare your car for winter.
"The tires have to be really good shape," said Annette, "and always keep a full tank of gas in case anything goes out."
"Make sure your tires are good and don't speed," Bowles said.
The City of South Lake Tahoe Department of Public Works, which plows the roads, recommends double-checking your chains when you put them on. Damaged chains can damage the wheel well. If you see a plow on the road, they say to give it space, even pull over if you have to.
Many neighbors say you should drive safely and not rely on your car.
"Number one, slow down," Rider said. "Number two, just because you have four-wheel drive doesn't mean that you can't get in a wreck."
"Don't count on your brakes too much, just roll to a stop and keep a lot of space between the car in front of you," said Frank Greco.
One neighbor says weekends can be crazy because of drivers who aren't familiar with the area.
"[There's] a lot of people who come up from the Bay and don't drive in the snow all the time. So just watch out for other drivers," said James Bright-Dumm.
Of course, you might as well enjoy the snow while it's here. Greco says this is the best time to prepare for winter sports.
"Right about now, I get the skis ready and pull the shovels out," he said. "I have a bike cover because I plan to ride up to the mountain."
"Get your toys ready, and just prepare for winter," said Rider.
You can use Nevada 511 and Caltrans QuickMap to keep an eye on road conditions this winter.
