# Snow on the roof of your car. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 13, 2006, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334 "2006-02-13T21:08:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/21 "2006-02-14T00:42:18Z")
In fact, I do it all the time. I never clean the snow off the roof. Never. Not once. I even think it’s pretty cool the way it makes a miniature blizzard as the wind from my acceleration blows it off, and I like it when chunks go flying behind. Personally, I say **Fuck all you tailgaters!** ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/22 "2006-02-14T00:52:12Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > [hijack] > I’d just like to take this opportunity to give a hearty Nelson Muntz style laugh at you East Coasters with 20 inches of snow. We here in Minneapolis have maybe 3 inches on the ground. > _ahem_ > _Ha-ha!_ > [/hijack] And let me laugh at you from South Florida where we have zero inches of snow, and it’s (almost) never below freezing. I suppose the hurricane wreckage might look pretty with nice dusting of snow, though. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/23 "2006-02-14T01:11:56Z")
> [@phungi](#): > > get a friggin broom, stand on one side of your car, hold the broom over your head horizontal to the ground, and push the snow off the roof, you lazy egocentric moron. It is realy quite simple. Not if it’s frozen, like much of the snow on the roof of our minivan this morning. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/24 "2006-02-14T01:16:30Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > And let me laugh at you from South Florida where we have zero inches of snow, and it’s (almost) never below freezing. > > I suppose the hurricane wreckage might look pretty with nice dusting of snow, though. I swore I’d never do this. but - in the Bay Area today, it is sunny and 75. 😃 I feel for you - I left New Jersey right after the blizzard of 1996. And I always cleaned the snow off my roof. Especially after it fell onto my windshield once in stages. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/25 "2006-02-14T01:34:16Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > Not if it’s frozen, like much of the snow on the roof of our minivan this morning. it usually helps to remove the snow the day the snow stops… the frozen slab is the most dangerous once the air gets under it. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/26 "2006-02-14T01:43:01Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > :: looks down at tank top, skirt, and flip flops :: > > :: looks out the window at the sunny, 75 degree weather :: > > Sn…ow? You guys mean that stuff they sell in little cups with tasty flavors? 😕 > > Dare I say? _Ha-ha!_ > > I’ve seen snow (up close) exactly twice in my life. :: throws snowball at **DiosaBellissima** :: THWAP!! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/27 "2006-02-14T02:01:00Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I swore I’d never do this. but - > > in the Bay Area today, it is sunny and 75. Last Saturday, 3 days ago it was -20f in the am. Nearly 100 degrees difference. It’s all a matter of degrees. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/28 "2006-02-14T02:05:32Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > :: looks down at tank top, skirt, and flip flops :: > > :: looks out the window at the sunny, 75 degree weather :: > > Sn…ow? You guys mean that stuff they sell in little cups with tasty flavors? 😕 > > Dare I say? _Ha-ha!_ > > I’ve seen snow (up close) exactly twice in my life. Girl - it’s going to be really, really, REALLY cold being dunked in a snowdrift with those flip flops on. Of course, on the other hand, here in the frigid midwest, it’s been quite some time since we had any of those nasty tectonic plate incidents you all seem to deal with so well. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/29 "2006-02-14T02:28:42Z")
Like **Scylla** above, I’ve been known to resemble a rolling whiteout on occasion. The occasion being that it snowed. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/30 "2006-02-14T02:33:55Z")
> [@phungi](#): > > It just snowed 18 inches here in the wonderful Northeast. Gravity brought it down from the sky but simple physics suggests it is not going to remain on your roof as you hurl yourself through our world. In fact, that hardening pile of snow will likely fly off, directly onto my windshield. My sincere apologies. In truth I was dutiful in the removal of snow from my windshield, all side windows, and even my rear window unlike many I saw driving that day. Unfortunately it had been a long while since I had seen my vehicle covered in snow and I had neglected to brush snow off my roof and off my hood. As I was driving down the highway I realized my mistake as snow kept blowing off the hood onto my windshield but by then it was to late to stop and rectify the situation. I shall be more careful in the future. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/31 "2006-02-14T02:35:09Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > :: looks down at tank top, skirt, and flip flops :: > > :: looks out the window at the sunny, 75 degree weather :: > > Sn…ow? You guys mean that stuff they sell in little cups with tasty flavors? 😕 > > Dare I say? _Ha-ha!_ > > I’ve seen snow (up close) exactly twice in my life. I’ll take 36 in Chicago than 75 in Bakersfield any day of my life. I think I am the one who gets to say _ha ha!_ here. ---
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/32 "2006-02-14T02:36:28Z")
I do always clean off the roof if the snow has piled up more than a couple of inches, but on mornings when there’s about two inches then I put the engine on as I brush off the car and shovel out the driveway, then as I am leaving our drive, I stop suddenly to let the snow on the roof go THUNK! down onto the windshield. I do love it, it’s so satisfying in a massive zitty sort of way. But I would never drive with a pile of snow on my car, it is indeed dangerous and annoying to other drivers. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/33 "2006-02-14T02:43:11Z")
> [@phungi](#): > > it usually helps to remove the snow the day the snow stops What if it wasn’t just snow but sleet or freezing rain as well? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/34 "2006-02-14T02:45:41Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > I’ll take 36 in Chicago than 75 in Bakersfield any day of my life. I think I am the one who gets to say _ha ha!_ here. Yeah, I enjoy the changing of seasons. Unlike when I lived in L.A. Snow in the Winter. Hot and dry in the Summer. Supercell T-storms in the Spring. Everything dying in the Autumn. You put up with a few inconveniences to enjoy the good things about each distinct season. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/35 "2006-02-14T02:47:01Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Yeah, I enjoy the changing of seasons. Unlike when I lived in L.A. > Snow in the Winter. > > Hot and dry in the Summer. > > Supercell T-storms in the Spring. > > Everything dying in the Autumn. > > You put up with a few inconveniences to enjoy the good things about each distinct season. Well, gee, now I’m gonna pick up and move to Oklahoma! You make it sound so enticing. ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/36 "2006-02-14T02:50:38Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > What if it wasn’t just snow but sleet or freezing rain as well? warm up the car for 5-10 mins with the heat on, then clean off the windshield, windows, and finally roof. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/37 "2006-02-14T02:51:25Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Well, gee, now I’m gonna pick up and move to Oklahoma! You make it sound so enticing. Bring pie. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/38 "2006-02-14T02:54:39Z")
In my own defense, I am not that short. I’m 5’7". I drive a RAV4 which sits fairly high off the ground so it’s sometimes hard to reach the top even with a broom or long-handled snow brush. When I say “safe”, I mean that there’s usually packed snow and ice around the car from the borough’s efforts to clear the street. Moving around to get even most of the snow off without slipping is dicey; in fact, I have twisted an ankle trying to clear the roof of my car. Since I have no desire to spend the winters wearing an ankle brace, I just do a couple turns in the empty parking lot behind my house. Robin ---
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/39 "2006-02-14T03:00:18Z")
This happens in the South, too, with drivers unaccustomed to the rare fits of snow that we do get down here. The snow/ice detretus isn’t as offensive as the rampant inability to drive under icy/snowy conditions. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334/40 "2006-02-14T03:03:16Z")
As I’ve mentioned before Coloradans don’t clean off the roofs of their cars, and I had never even heard of the concept until this board. If you’re going fast enough close enough to get caught in the blow off, then back the fuck off, if probably icy. Nobody cleans the hood or trunk either unless there is more than a foot. Why on earth an I going to mess up my cars finish with a broom and icy abrasive when I can simply let the laws of physics lift it away harmlessly. The wind tunnel paterns as the snow erodes are pretty damn cool too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/snow-on-the-roof-of-your-car/344334.md?page=3)