A powerful winter storm has caused thus far, 37 deaths and left thousand of households without power. But, it also wreaked havoc on holiday plans as airlines canceled or delayed thousands of flights, leaving people stranded.

“A total of 5,100 flights within, into, or out of the country were canceled and 8,400 others were delayed on Friday, disrupting holiday travel plans for thousands of travelers, according to Flight Aware, a flight tracking service,” says The New York Times.

Since Friday, the snow Armageddon has continued to disrupt travel plans; thus, many travelers have chosen to drive to their destination. However, driving through a snowstorm can be dangerous and even fatal. News channels have already reported about severe coastal flooding along much of the Northeast and New England coasts but also dangerous winds, iced roads, waves, and subzero temperatures.

Evidently, this has created dangerous road conditions that should have convinced drivers to shelter in place instead of driving through the winter storm. So, for all those who are on the roads during this winter, here are our top tips for driving in a winter storm.

Related: The Proper Way To Remove Snow And Ice From Your Car Without Damaging It

Top Tips For Driving In A Winter Storm: Before Departing, Be Prepared For Your Trip

Gold Porsche 911 Turbo S
YouTube @ TFJJ

Avoid the error of starting a road journey without being adequately prepared for it. Winter driving can be challenging, particularly when there is a snowstorm, or you are anticipating frigid conditions. Naturally, staying at home is the best course of action, but if that's not possible, let family members know your route and the expected arrival time.

Also, before the journey, make sure you charged the phone, tablet and emergency phone charger. By doing this, you can stay connected during your travels and alert your family and emergency services if you get stranded. Equally important, pack heavy clothing and blankets for your trip. Don’t rely exclusively on the air conditioning in your car to keep you warm when traveling. If you travel long distance, pack food and extra water. Lastly, don’t forget to leave a flashlight, ice scraper, and shovel in your trunk.

Top Tips For Driving In A Winter Storm: Drive Slowly, Stay Alert, And Minimize Distractions

EL1 - snow
via: E-Legend AG 

Driving slowly and avoiding distractions should always be a priority, but during winter, this is especially important. You should refrain from singing while driving during winter storms, even though it is a fantastic Christmas activity, and doing so supposedly creates "a hefty dose of dopamine," which "boosts your motivation and drive.”

Focus only on the road and drive slowly. Also, don’t text and drive. And disregard all notifications from social media because you can respond to a message once you arrive safely at your destination.

“When we hit the winter months, especially as we enter the holiday season, we are in a rush. There is holiday shopping, there are places to go. You start to see an increase in people becoming more erratic in their driving behavior because they are in a rush for the holidays. You throw snow and ice on top of it, and it becomes a potential disaster,” said Dave Phillips, senior public affairs specialist at State Farm Insurance.

If you really have to stop because of low visibility or an emergency, don’t leave your car unattended or in the road. Additionally, keep in mind that you need to find a smart way to alert other drivers and emergency services about your location; thus, use a colorful piece of fabric (definitely not white) that you can attach to the car’s antenna or even better, keep the cabin lights on. This way, other vehicles will see you.

While driving again, don’t use the autopilot or your car’s self-driving features because you can’t rely on them during snowstorms. Additionally, wherever it's possible, follow the path of the cars in front of you. Although it should go without saying, remember that slowing down will help you prevent skidding on ice.

Related: Winter Is Coming: AWD Vs FWD For Driving In The Snow

Top Tips For Driving In A Winter Storm: Increase Your Visibility And Following Distance

Night drive in snow hd wallpaper
via: yahoo.co.jp

Low visibility is one of the major issues when driving through winter storms. In order to avoid accidents, always increase the following distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Also, clean your mirrors and head, tail and brake lights. TopDriver recommends “to keep the recirculation function off.”

“While it’s nice to have the heat blasting at your feet if your shoes or floor mats are wet or covered in snow the evaporation will increase moisture in the air,” says TopDriver. “Another great trick that seems a little counterintuitive is to turn on the air conditioning which will help clear up the fog right away.”

Remember that even though the air conditioning would clear the fog, you still need to stay warm and keep a normal body temperature; so, put another blanket or the warm wool jumper you packed earlier on top of your body.

Sources: Fox Weather, KBB, Huffpost, CNN, The New York Times