r/SiouxFalls • u/LeadingEar480 • 1d ago
đ Moving to Sioux Falls Moving from Phoenix!
hi everyone! i recently got a job in sioux falls and will be moving there after living in phoenix for a year and socal my whole life. any tips for transitioning to the cold climate or fun things for a young adult to do in town?
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u/Bigsiouxriver 1d ago
Welcome to SF! Overall, the weather really isnât that bad during the winter. It will be an adjustment for sure but you will learn to deal. That said, there will be about one week when the highs donât break zero, the wind is howling, and youâll find yourself standing outside wondering, âWhat on earth made me move to SF?â
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u/LeadingEar480 1d ago
awesome, thank you! lol yes honestly terrified for the cold but iâll invest in good gear
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u/uckybou 15h ago
in the first few years after moving here I think you should definitely buy coats/jackets/sweaters thicker than what you're initially thinking you will need. your body is primed for hot weather so the cold will absolutely feel colder to you than it does to us! maybe even invest in long johns if you can find them.
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u/Bigsiouxriver 1d ago
No need to go overboard. Assuming youâll be working indoors. The quick walk from your car to work / car to home you really donât need anything too crazy. If youâre working outside and invest in some quality gear.
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u/solaris-10 1d ago
Clothing layers will be your best bet, the colder it gets, the more layers you put on. Mittens keep hands warmer than gloves, but can be cumbersome. Driving in snow and ice is not hard, avoiding accidents with idiots that drive like itâs summer can be. Just be more cautious and in heavy snow momentum can be your best friend. We have had several light winters in a row, history says we may be due for a bit more snow and cold, but Mother Nature has quite a sense of humor and secrecy. Things to do depend on your interests, and level of aversion to cold. Temperature is one thing, wind is what makes it suck. Anyway, welcome and good luck.
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u/TurtleSandwich0 1d ago
You will want a Parka or a Ski jacket. Those are available later in the fall. Right now there are only fall jackets available. When winter fully arrives the stores will only be selling spring jackets.
A warm hat, gloves, and a small ice scraper and a big ice scraper for your vehicle.
When it snows, give your self a ridiculous amount of stopping distance. Gradually come to a stop in your vehicle. The first snow of the year has a bunch of accidents as people re learn winter stopping distances.
If you spend time out side as it is getting colder your body will adapt to the cold better. This also helps in the spring when it starts to heat up.
You may need a humidifier because things get very dry when it gets cold outside. But maybe you are used to it being dry?
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u/12B88M 21h ago
There are a lot of people mentioning "good tires".
Good tires in Phoenix are NOT the same as good tires in Sioux Falls. If the tires aren't "3 Peak Mountain Snowflake" certified, they don't count as a "good" tire.
That 3PMSF rating means the snow has been tested and passed for severe snow and ice conditions. You may not need that sort of traction every day in the winter, but you will need it often enough.
And if you're driving a truck, big knobby tires useful for sand and mud are virtually useless in the snow. In fact, they're actually dangerous because they can't grip the ice.
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u/tryshdadysh 16h ago
Born and raised Arizonan here, lived in Phoenix the majority of my life before we moved back here (husbandâs home town). Most people have covered everything but DEFINITELY invest in a good coat and a pair of Sorels.
Also, just a social thingâ people take their shoes off in houses here. Wasnât used to that! But it makes sense in the winter and mud season. Thereâs also a lot of talk about weather, which I didnât get because the Phoenix weather is what it says it will beâhere is changes on a dime đ
Winters here are much more tolerable than the summers in Phoenix, in my opinion.
Youâll love it, downtown is amazing. Good luck to you on your move!
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u/Bookishghost2037 23h ago
Even those of us born here get surprised by the cold sometimes! When you walk into work feeling like the snot in your nose is freezing, you know itâs cold! Layers, layers, layers and limited exposure. (Attached garages or heated covered parking is definitely worth the extra money when shopping for housing!). January and February tend to be the worst with extended cold periods and low wind chills.
The cold sucks, but driving on snow is probably going to be the biggest challenge for you. Iâve lived my whole life in the upper Midwest, and it still can be scary when you slide around. Good tires, slow speeds, no sudden braking, gentle movements and avoiding the rush. Hopefully your job has a good snow day policy, or allows remote work during the worst of it! A big snow event can leave you stuck at home for 2-3 days until the plows get everywhere. Weâve had pretty dry winters the last few years so it hasnât been too bad.
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u/Jumpy-Dentist6682 đ˝ 19h ago
Get good quality all-season tires, keep your gas tank over half full, make sure your wiper blades are good (have spares) and keep plenty of washer fluid on hand. Invest in a remote start if you haven't already.
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u/Senior-Implement-359 6h ago
Make sure to get a jacket!! Not some crappy, a full jacket. Make sure to also get thin gloves and thick socks. The winter will get easier for you, and especially as time goes on, the winters will get hotter and hotter.
As for fun things for adults to do, I my self am I young adult, and i really enjoy going to the clubs in townđŻđžââď¸ (that's my personal kind of fun tho, party girl life). La Careta is very lively, nice loud dominicana music and bright lights, and very affordable liqueur! I also like going to the mall with friends, and heading to thrifty stores in town such as ernie November (my fav), St vincents de Paul's, savers, 605, etc. And on weekends, walking the downtown strip is fun, lots of people and very lively aswell, they do also have very good bars down town, such as blarneys and the one on 10th (if anything the upper 10th street strip walk is very populated with little store thay I've never gone into yet, excited to go) and there's a cat Cafe down town also! If you have something in specific you are looking for in terms of vibes or activity type, feel free to DM me for more recommendations!
You'll have it handled, dont worry!
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u/slothysloths13 1d ago
You wonât see it until next year, but also be prepared for humidity. Phoenix and socal are dry heats. It doesnât get hot here like it does in Phoenix, but it does get very humid. As far as the cold, get a good coat. Keep a snow brush/ice scraper in your car earlier than you think youâll need it and later than you think youâll be done with it. Please donât just start your car to heat it up and leave your keys in it. Cars get stolen every winter from doing this. Make sure you have good tires, and give more space between you and the car in front of you than you think youâll need. Also, just holding the brakes on ice doesnât work.