The Austin area’s freeze this morning is no laughing matter: The wintry weather – which worsened in tandem with the city’s morning rush hour – snarled traffic and caught schools and government offices by surprise. (See a list of delays and closures here.)
But it’s also provided ample fodder on social media, where Austinites are sharing stories and images of their morning commute – or their snow days.
Instagram provides a window into a uniquely Austin issue with the weather: In colder climates, ice scrapers are a given for drivers. But here in Central Texas, what do you use to clear the ice from your windshield?
With plenty of photos like this making the rounds, it’s an issue many Austinites are facing:
So without further ado: curated from Instagram, a look at what Austin’s using for ice scrapers.
A popular choice for many Austinites: credit cards.
Nametags can work in pinch too, apparently:
Advanced card technique: augmenting the scraping with water. A definite pro move, since some say using hot water can crack your car's windshield.
The key is to use what you have. If it’s a CD, make sure it’s one you’re not very attached to:
The handle on this spatula would seem to provide needed torque, but we have our doubts about the strength of the material:
Speaking of material strength: don’t skimp on your scraper purchases – otherwise this could happen:
Apparently there do exist a few souls in Austin who possess real ice-scrapers.
And maybe most importantly: having an extra set of hands may be the most valuable commodity.
