Seasonal Hazards

Seasonal Hazards

In Bermuda strong winds—sometimes gale-force winds—may be a problem from December to April.
In Canada there are heavy snowfalls in most provinces from December through February.

In Argentina weather conditions in the mountainous areas may be erratic and dangerous. Flash floods, sudden snowfalls and drastic drops in temperature during the night are common.
In Bolivia driving during the rainy season (November - March) may be hazardous. Most routes are potholed, and many bridges and roads are washed out, making inter-city travel extremely difficult.
In Ecuador beware of landslides and flooded roads from January to April.
In Panama the rainy season runs from April to December. Flooding during these months washes out some roads in the interior, and makes others completely impassable by car.
In Paraguay as well as Peru rainfall is heaviest from December to March. Unsurfaced roads may be closed in bad weather.

In Zimbabwe heavy rains may make driving difficult between November and February.
In Zambia some gravel roads can only be driven with four-wheel drives from November to April.
In Morocco beware of driving across mountain ranges (especially the Atlas mountains) in winter. The road south of Agard to Oudad is over a mountain pass and is sometimes snowed over in the winter. The roads to Tizi n'Test and Telouet can be snowbound in the winter. Flash flooding may also occur frequently and may be severe.

In Australia dust is severe in the center of the country from November through March. This dust fills potholes and obscures hazards. The wet season in the north (December to April) brings danger of flooding and mud.
In Japan snow removal is very poor, and roads are not salted. Roads are often closed during the winter months in the mountainous regions of Japan.
In Papua, New Guinea landslides can be a problem on the Highlands Highway from December to March.

In Wales roads in the upland areas may be impassable in the winter.
In Turkey be sure your car or the vehicle you are renting has chains available for the tires. Vehicles without chains are prohibited on some roads and bridges during storms.
In Slovakia dense fog or smog can form anywhere in the wintertime.
In Russia as well as Romania heavy snowfalls can make driving dangerous.
In Portugal the following roads through Sera da Estrela may be closed due to snow: 231,232, 338, and 339.
In Norway many mountainous roads are closed from late fall to late spring.
In Iceland, extreme care should be taken when driving in rural areas during the winter, when daylight hours are limited and the weather and road conditions can change quickly.
In Finland studded tires are necessary during winter months. Engine heaters are also strongly recommended.
In Austria snow, ice, floods and storms can prevent traffic from flowing and increase the risk of accidents.
In France "black ice" and a sudden misting over of the windshield are problems frequently encountered.