SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - If you didn't want to drive in Friday's snow storm in Sioux Falls, you could always watch KELO Radio's Rick Williams drive for you, just for the vicarious thrill.
It's clear from the Williams video that driving was dicey and icy during the storm, but if you just took it slow, kept it off cruise control, and put some distance from the guy in front, you would get where you were going.
Travel will be especially dicey this weekend with life-threatening cold and slippery to snow packed road conditions.
Sioux Falls Forecaster Todd Heitkamp says you must have winter weather survival kit in your car.
Heitkamp advises allowing extra time to reach your destination and put a space between you and the car in front of you to allow for proper braking distance.
He says to tell folks at your destination when you are leaving and when you plan to arrive.
For up to date road conditions dial 511 or go to the State of South Dakota's website, access road conditions for the 511 traveler information page.
Xcel Energy reminds residents that snow and ice can cause electrical outages so they have extra crews ready and available for this weekend's storm.
Eric Pauli says given this storm's dynamics, the threat of an outage is minimal
But Pauli says you never know when an insulator, that looks like there's nothing wrong with it, could be the victim of a strong wind. He says the wind could push a bolt through it or make a nut come lose so you always have to be prepared.
Pauli says if you come across a downed power line, stay away and call Xcel's emergency number, 1-800-895-1999. That's the same number you can use to report and outage.
When it comes to supplemental heating in the home, Pauli says to make sure the space heater doesn't have cracked or broken plugs and connections. He says never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when leaving a room and don't go to sleep with a space heater on.