Winter storm safety: how to stay safe at home and on the road
The National Weather Service says to plan for losing heat, power and phone service, stock food, water and medicine before the storm, and keep a winter kit in your car. The CDC says never use a stove to heat your home or run a generator indoors, and a body temperature below 95°F is an emergency.
The Federal Highway Administration says crashes during snow, sleet, hail and freezing rain killed an average of 407 people and injured 34,206 every year from 2019 to 2023.
- Watch, warning or advisory?
- Before the storm
- Heating safely at home
- Winter car kit checklist
- If you are stranded in your car
- Frostbite and hypothermia
- Shoveling and driving
- Gear
Watch, warning or advisory?
| Alert | What it means |
|---|---|
| Winter Storm Watch | Conditions are right for a big storm: heavy snow, heavy sleet, ice, or a mix. Get ready now. |
| Winter Storm Warning | A big storm is coming. Travel may become very hard or impossible. |
| Winter Weather Advisory | Wintry weather is expected but not bad enough for a warning. Take care. |
| Blizzard Warning | Gusts of 35 mph or more with snow cutting visibility below ¼ mile for 3 hours or more. |
| Ice Storm Warning | Usually about ¼ inch of ice or more. |
| Wind Chill Warning | Cold air and strong wind together make dangerously low wind chills. |
From the National Weather Service. Local NWS offices set the exact limits, so they vary by region.
Before the storm
- Stock up on food that needs no cooking or fridge, water, extra prescription medicine and baby supplies (NWS).
- Refill heating fuel early. The NWS says deliveries may take days after a storm.
- Test alarms: smoke and battery-operated carbon monoxide (CO) detectors near heat sources. Test monthly and change batteries twice a year (CDC).
- Protect pipes: insulate pipes on outside walls (CDC).
- Service heating: have the furnace checked and the chimney or flue inspected every year (CDC).
- Bring pets inside, or give them warm shelter and unfrozen water (CDC).
- Keep the gas tank near full (CDC).
Heating safely at home
- Never heat with the stove or oven. The CDC says turning on the stove for heat is not safe.
- Space heaters: keep them at least 3 feet from curtains, furniture and bedding. Use models with automatic shut-off, and do not run them on extension cords (CDC).
- Generators, grills and camp stoves outdoors only. Keep generators at least 20 feet from windows, doors and vents (CDC). See generator safety.
- If you feel sick, dizzy or weak, get to fresh air right away. The Red Cross says carbon monoxide kills.
- Clear snow from outside vents for the furnace and CO detectors (NWS).
- If the heat goes out, close off rooms you do not need, stuff towels under doors, close curtains, wear loose layers and drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids (NWS). See how to stay warm without power.
- Babies under 1 should not sleep in a cold room, and adults over 65 should check the room temperature often (CDC).
Winter car kit checklist
Ticks save on this device. List from the CDC.
- Cell phone, portable charger and extra batteries
- Warm clothing and blankets
- Windshield scraper and shovel
- Battery-powered radio and flashlight, with spare batteries
- Water and snacks
- First aid kit with needed medicines
- Tow rope or chains, and tire chains
- Tire sealant or compressed air
- Cat litter, sand or road salt for traction
- Jumper cables or a charged booster battery
- Reflectors, a distress flag or flares
- Road maps
- Waterproof matches and a can for melting snow
If you are stranded in your car
- Stay in the car. You can get lost fast in blowing snow. The Red Cross says leave only if you can see help within 100 yards.
- Run the engine about 10 minutes each hour for heat, with a window slightly open (CDC).
- Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow so carbon monoxide cannot build up inside (NWS).
- Be seen. Turn on the dome light while the engine runs, tie a bright cloth (red if you have it) to the antenna or door, and raise the hood once the snow stops (NWS).
- Keep moving your arms and legs, and stay awake (CDC).
Frostbite and hypothermia
| Signs | What to do | |
|---|---|---|
| Hypothermia | Adults: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, drowsiness. Babies: bright red, cold skin and very low energy. | Below 95°F is an emergency: get medical help. Move them somewhere warm, remove wet clothes, and warm the center of the body (chest, neck, head, groin) first. Warm drinks help, but no alcohol, and nothing by mouth if they are unconscious. |
| Frostbite | Redness or pain first, then white or grayish-yellow skin that feels firm or waxy, and numbness. | Get medical care. Get them into a warm room and put the area in warm, not hot, water. Do not rub or massage it. Do not use a heating pad, heat lamp, stove, fireplace or radiator. Do not walk on frostbitten feet unless you have to. |
From the CDC on hypothermia and frostbite. If someone has no pulse or breathing, call 911 and start CPR (see hands-only CPR).
Shoveling and driving
- Shovel slowly. The CDC says cold weather puts extra strain on the heart. If you have heart disease or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's advice about shoveling.
- Avoid travel on icy roads, overpasses and bridges, and in low visibility (CDC).
- Tell someone your route and when you expect to arrive (NWS).
- If you skid, ease off the gas and steer where you want the front of the car to go. With anti-lock brakes, press steadily and do not pump them (NWS).
- Never pour water on the windshield to clear ice (CDC).
Common mistakes
- Turning on the oven or stove to heat the house. The CDC says it is not safe.
- Running a generator in the garage or basement. Carbon monoxide can kill in an enclosed space.
- Leaving the car to walk for help in blowing snow. Stay with the car unless help is close by.
- Running the engine with snow blocking the exhaust pipe.
- Rubbing frostbitten skin or warming it with a heating pad or by the fire.
- Waiting until heating fuel runs low. Deliveries can take days after a storm.
Gear for this
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Battery-operated carbon monoxide detector
The CDC says to install one. Fuel-burning heat and generators put homes at risk.
Space heater with automatic shut-off
The CDC says to use electric heaters with automatic shut-off switches.
Winter car emergency kit
Covers most of the CDC car kit list. Check what is missing and add it.
Jump starter or booster pack
The CDC lists jumper cables or a charged booster battery.
Indoor thermometer
The Red Cross says to use one to keep track of the temperature at home.
Questions people ask
What should I do if I am stuck in my car in a snowstorm?
Stay in the car, run the engine about 10 minutes each hour with a window slightly open, keep the exhaust clear of snow, and make the car easy to see.
What temperature is hypothermia?
The CDC says a body temperature below 95°F is an emergency. Get medical help right away.
How far should a space heater be from things?
The CDC and Red Cross say at least 3 feet from anything that can burn.
Sources
- National Weather Service: Winter Weather Warnings
- National Weather Service: Before a Winter Storm
- National Weather Service: During a Winter Storm
- CDC: Preparing for a Winter Storm
- CDC: Safety During and After a Winter Storm
- CDC: Preventing Hypothermia
- CDC: Preventing Frostbite
- American Red Cross: Winter Storm Safety
- Federal Highway Administration: How Do Weather Events Impact Roads?
Related entries
- P-03How to stay warm without powerClose off rooms, block drafts, layer up, and never heat with a gas oven or grill.
- P-01Portable generator safety: where to put it and how not to dieOutside only, more than 20 feet from the house, never in the garage.
- P-02What to do when the power goes outThe first steps, food and medicine rules, and the carbon monoxide mistakes that kill people in outages.
General safety information only, not medical or professional advice. Rules can change, so check the linked sources and follow your local officials. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.