The Movers.com Blog

A storm's a-brewin'!

Unfortunately, there are several things that can complicate your moving day. High on that list is the weather. While it would be nice if everyone’s moving day involved 70° weather along with blue skies, fluffy white clouds, and a slight breeze, this doesn’t happen that often. Instead, there are several weather situations that can lead to trouble when you move. Depending on the region you live in and the time of year, you or your movers may encounter some of the following:

1. Extreme Heat - Moving in any weather can be quite the workout. If it is excessively hot on the day of your move, the move will take an even greater toll on your body. Make sure to work slowly, take a lot of breaks, and drink plenty of water. It’s not just your body you have to worry about in hot weather. Your temperature-sensitive items can also be damaged by extreme heat.

2. Extreme Cold - On the opposite side of the spectrum, a cold snap can also be detrimental to your move. Since you’ll likely have to wear gloves, coats, and other bulky clothes, carrying your goods to the moving truck will be more difficult. The move can also take a lot longer, since you’ll want to take plenty of breaks inside to stay warm.

3. Mist - Though mist might not seem like much, it can still have an impact on your move. For one, a gray sky and moist air can cause some frustration as you stress about whether it will rain or not. At the same time, since you might not see or even feel the mist, you could assume that there is no precipitation. Later on, though, you might end up with soggy cardboard boxes. On top of this, the mist can make the roads very slick, making the drive to your new home more dangerous.

4. Downpour - A more obvious problem than mist is a downpour. Not only will strong, steady rain make the roads slippery, it can also be hard to see as you drive. Moving your belongings from your home to the truck is more risky - you could slip on the driveway or end up with damaged goods if they get wet. Also, your goods can become slippery in the wet weather, causing you to drop something.

5. High Winds - Another weather condition that can ruin a move is wind. Though you might not think it could be such a problem, strong winds can definitely be troublesome. When carrying big items, like a mattress, they can easily catch wind. This could cause you to drop the mattress, resulting in damage to you, the mattress, or other nearby objects. The wind can also affect the drive to your new home. The truck can easily be swayed by the strong winds, making the drive more treacherous.

6. Snow/Sleet/Ice - These weather problems can make moving especially difficult. Since they involve precipitation and cold weather, and very well include strong winds, snow, sleet, and ice can cause serious problems on your moving day. For instance, your moving company might not carry out the move if the roads are bad. If driving yourself in a rental truck, you might not be comfortable driving in this weather either. Even if you do end up moving in such conditions, it will likely take a lot longer.

7. Hurricanes - Hurricanes also combine some of the above factors - notably high winds and heavy downpours. Of course, if you are in the direct path of a hurricane, it would probably be best to postpone the move. Even if you aren’t in the direct path, you can still be susceptible to its effects. Also, hurricanes could potentially delay your move well after it passes through, since they can lead to road closures due to flooding or downed power lines and trees.

8. Hail - While hail is mostly encountered in the interior of the country, they aren’t always confined to specific regions, like some of the other weather problems. As hailstones can sometimes be as large as grapefruits, they can easily damage you and your precious goods as you try to load up the moving truck.

9. Dust Storms - If you live in an arid or semi-arid part of the country, then your move might be affected by dust storms. These result from dry sand and topsoil getting caught in strong winds. While you won’t want to be outside during a dust storm, your move can be delayed if you experience such an event. Your move could still be delayed by the after effects of a dust storm; once the dust settles, it can completely cover the roads and make unsuitable for driving.

10. Nice Weather - Even perfect weather can pose some problems on your moving day. Mainly, if the weather is so nice, you probably won’t want to spend the beautiful day moving. However, it might not be a good idea to put aside your move to enjoy the nice weather - you never know what the weather will be like the next day…

Regardless of whichever weather problems you encounter on your moving day, always take the appropriate measures to protect yourself, your family, your movers, and your belongings. If the weather is going to cause some issues for your move, it will be better to reschedule the move than to take the risk of moving in extreme weather.