Winter PCS: Complete Guide to Moving in Snow, Ice & Cold Weather

Bottom Line Up Front: Winter PCS (Nov-Mar) poses unique challenges: Snow delays (moving trucks stuck), frozen pipes during transit, damaged electronics from cold, road closures extending travel time 2-5 days. Preparation: Book movers 90+ days ahead (limited winter availability), winterize vehicle (antifreeze, snow tires), pack cold-sensitive items in car (not moving truck), allow extra travel days (weather delays), have emergency kit (blankets, food, flashlight). Weight estimate increases 10-15% (winter clothes, coats, boots vs. summer gear). Insurance critical - document pre-existing damage, file claims within 75 days.

Why Winter PCS Is Different

Challenges Unique to Winter Moves

Weather delays:

• Snowstorms delay movers (1-7 days)
• Ice storms close roads (can't travel)
• Extreme cold = movers work slower (frozen hands, taking breaks)

Damage risk:

• Electronics freeze in unheated truck
• Liquids freeze/expand (burst pipes, shampoo bottles)
• Wood furniture cracks (temperature swings)
• Cars damaged (ice, salt on roads during transport)

Travel complications:

• Roads closed (blizzards, ice)
• Rental trucks harder to drive (ice, snow)
• Hotel availability (snow storms = everyone stops)
• Flight cancellations (if flying to new duty station)

Limited mover availability:

• Most people PCS in summer (May-Aug)
• Fewer moving companies work winter
• Higher prices (limited supply)

Weight increase:

• Winter clothes heavier (coats, boots, winter gear)
• 10-15% more weight vs. summer PCS

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Timeline: Winter PCS Planning

120 Days Before (Critical for Winter)

Book movers EARLY:

• Summer PCS: 60 days ahead = OK
• Winter PCS: 90-120 days ahead = NECESSARY (limited availability)

TMO appointment:

• Get orders, start paperwork immediately
• Don't wait until last minute

90 Days Before

Winterize old residence:

• Arrange utilities shutoff (but keep heat on until moving day to prevent frozen pipes)
• If selling: Heat on until sold (frozen pipe = $10,000+ damage)

Research new duty station weather:

• Moving to Alaska from Florida? Buy winter gear NOW (cheaper before you need it)

60 Days Before

Vehicle preparation:

• Snow tires (if moving to snowy location)
• Antifreeze check
• Battery test (cold kills batteries)
• Emergency kit (blankets, food, shovel, ice scraper)

Pack strategy:

• Cold-sensitive items in car (NOT moving truck)
• Label "Temperature Sensitive" boxes

30 Days Before

Weather monitoring:

• Check 10-day forecast for moving day
• Be flexible (if blizzard forecast, ask TMO about changing dates)

Backup plan:

• What if movers can't come? (hotel for extra days)
• What if roads close? (alternate route mapped)

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Packing for Winter PCS

Cold-Sensitive Items (Pack in Car, NOT Moving Truck)

Electronics:

• Laptops, tablets (lithium batteries damaged by extreme cold)
• TVs (LCD screens crack in freezing temps)
• Gaming consoles
• Hard drives (data corruption from cold)

Liquids:

• Shampoo, conditioner (expand when frozen, burst bottles)
• Medications (some temperature-sensitive)
• Cleaning supplies
• Paint (ruined if frozen)

Valuable/Irreplaceable:

• Photos, important documents
• Jewelry, heirlooms
• Anything you can't afford to lose to cold damage

Musical instruments:

• Guitars (wood cracks in cold/dry)
• Pianos (tuning destroyed by temperature swings)
• Brass/woodwinds (pads damaged)

Winterizing Household Goods for Moving Truck

Furniture:

• Wrap in moving blankets (insulation from cold)
• Leather furniture (protect from cracking in dry cold)
• Wood furniture (seal with furniture wax before packing)

Appliances:

• Washer/dryer: Drain ALL water (frozen water = cracked hoses, pumps)
• Dishwasher: Drain completely
• Refrigerator: Defrost 48 hours ahead, drain, dry completely

Plants:

• Most won't survive winter PCS in moving truck
• Give to friends or sell (cheaper than replacing dead plants)
• Exception: Move in your car with heat on

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Moving Day in Winter

If It Snows on Moving Day

Light snow (<2 inches):

• Movers usually work (slower pace)
• Shovel walkways, driveway (before movers arrive)
• Salt/sand icy steps (prevent mover injuries)

Heavy snow (>6 inches) or blizzard:

• Movers may cancel (safety)
• Reschedule for next available day
• You may need hotel (keep moving-day essentials accessible)

What movers WON'T do:

• Shovel your driveway/walkways
• Work in unsafe ice conditions
• Drive in white-out conditions

Your responsibility:

• Clear paths before movers arrive
• Provide dry area for breaks (garage, covered porch)
• Be flexible with timing (weather delays happen)

Protecting Belongings on Moving Day

Cover walkways:

• Plastic sheeting or tarps (protect boxes from snow/slush)
• Movers will track snow inside (expect wet floors)

Temperature-sensitive items:

• Load last, unload first (minimize cold exposure)
• OR take in your car

Document everything:

• Photos of items before loading (cold damage = harder to prove than normal damage)
• Note weather conditions on inventory ("Loaded in snowstorm, 15°F")

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Driving Cross-Country in Winter

Route Planning

Avoid mountain passes if possible:

• I-70 through Rockies = closed frequently (avalanche danger, ice)
• I-80 through Wyoming = treacherous (high winds, ice, closures)
• I-90 through Montana/Dakotas = extreme cold (-30°F windchill)

Safer winter routes:

• I-40 (southern route, warmer)
• I-10 (southernmost, rarely snow)

Check road conditions:

• 511 (dial from cell phone for state road conditions)
• Weather.gov (National Weather Service)
• Waze (real-time user reports)

Winter Driving Kit (Essential)

In trunk:

• ✅ Blankets (2-3 wool or fleece)
• ✅ Non-perishable food (granola bars, water, nuts)
• ✅ Flashlight + extra batteries
• ✅ Jumper cables
• ✅ Ice scraper, snow brush
• ✅ Small shovel (collapsible)
• ✅ Bag of sand or cat litter (traction if stuck)
• ✅ Road flares or reflective triangles
• ✅ Phone charger (car + portable battery)
• ✅ First aid kit

Why this matters:

• Stranded in snowstorm = potentially overnight wait for help
• Blankets, food = survival

If You Get Stuck in Snow

Don't panic:

1. Stay with vehicle (don't wander in blizzard)
2. Call 911 (give location, situation)
3. Run engine 10 min/hour for heat (crack window to prevent carbon monoxide)
4. Use blankets, huddle together
5. Wait for help

Preventing getting stuck:

• Don't drive in blizzards (stop at hotel)
• Allow extra days (weather delays are normal)

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Common Winter PCS Mistakes

❌ Mistake #1: Booking Movers Too Late

Reality:

• Try to book movers 30 days before winter PCS
• All winter movers booked
• Forced to move yourself in rental truck (dangerous in snow/ice if inexperienced)

Fix: Book 90-120 days ahead (winter = limited mover availability)

❌ Mistake #2: Packing Liquids/Electronics in Moving Truck

Reality:

• Pack laptop, shampoo, paint in moving truck
• Truck sits in -10°F for 3 days during snowstorm
• Laptop ruined, bottles burst

Fix: Cold-sensitive items in heated car

❌ Mistake #3: Not Allowing Extra Travel Time

Reality:

• Plan 3-day drive (Texas to Alaska)
• Snowstorm in Canada delays 2 days
• Miss report date, commander not happy

Fix: Add 2-5 buffer days for winter PCS travel

❌ Mistake #4: Selling Winter Clothes Before PCS to Cold Location

Reality:

• PCS from Florida to Alaska
• Sell/donate winter coats ("I don't need these in Florida")
• Arrive in Alaska with no winter gear
• Spend $2,000 on coats, boots, gloves

Fix: Keep winter gear if moving to cold climate (even if you don't need it NOW)

❌ Mistake #5: Not Winterizing Appliances

Reality:

• Don't drain washing machine before movers pack
• Water freezes in hoses during transport
• Washer arrives with cracked pump ($500 replacement)

Fix: Drain ALL water from appliances (washer, dishwasher, fridge)

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Destination Preparation (New Duty Station)

Before You Arrive

Research local winter:

• Average temps, snowfall
• What gear locals use (studded tires, block heaters, etc.)

Order winter essentials ahead:

• Amazon ship to new address (arrives before you do)
• Snow shovel, ice melt, warm bedding

First Week at New (Cold) Duty Station

Vehicle:

• Get snow tires (local shop, usually required by law in some states)
• Engine block heater (Alaska, North Dakota = necessary for -40°F mornings)

Housing:

• Space heaters (if government quarters/base housing is drafty)
• Humidifier (winter = dry indoor air)
• Weatherstripping windows (reduce heating bills)

Clothing:

• Layering system (base layer, insulation, waterproof shell)
• Boots rated for local temps (Alaska = -40°F rated boots)
• Gloves, hats, scarves

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Insurance & Damage Claims (Winter-Specific)

Cold-Damage Claims

Common winter damage:

• Frozen/burst liquid containers
• Electronics damaged by cold
• Furniture cracks (wood, leather)
• Water damage (frozen pipes in truck/house)

How to file:

1. Note damage on delivery inventory (immediately)
2. Take photos (damaged item + weather conditions if relevant)
3. Get repair estimates
4. File claim within 75 days (Full Replacement Value) or 9 months (depreciated)

Proving cold damage:

• Weather records (show it was -10°F during transit)
• Moving company GPS tracking (truck sat in cold for X days)
• Expert opinion (electronics repairman confirms "cold damage")

Common denial:

• "Improper packing" (movers claim you packed liquid wrong, not cold damage)

Fight it:

• Show movers packed it (you didn't)
• Show weather was extreme (not your fault)
• Appeal denial

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Action Steps

120 Days Before Winter PCS:

1. ✅ Get orders, contact TMO immediately
2. ✅ Book moving company (ASAP)
3. ✅ Research destination winter weather

60 Days Before:

1. ✅ Winterize vehicle (tires, antifreeze, battery)
2. ✅ Order winter gear for destination (if needed)
3. ✅ Plan driving route (avoid mountain passes if possible)

30 Days Before:

1. ✅ Drain appliances (washer, dishwasher, fridge)
2. ✅ Pack cold-sensitive items separately (for car)
3. ✅ Monitor weather forecast

Moving Day:

1. ✅ Clear snow/ice from walkways (before movers arrive)
2. ✅ Load temperature-sensitive items in car
3. ✅ Document condition (photos, note weather)

Travel:

1. ✅ Check weather/road conditions daily
2. ✅ Allow extra days (winter delays normal)
3. ✅ Emergency kit in car

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Related Guides

• PCS Vehicle Shipping (POV)
• OCONUS PCS Complete Guide
• PCS Damage Claims

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Remember: Winter PCS is manageable with preparation. Book movers 90-120 days ahead (limited availability). Pack cold-sensitive items in heated car (not moving truck). Winterize appliances (drain water). Allow extra travel time (weather delays are normal, not exceptional). Emergency kit in car (blankets, food, shovel). Document everything (cold damage harder to prove). Most critical: Flexibility. Weather is unpredictable - have backup plans.