Winter Storm Preparedness: What to Do Before, During and After a Storm

Winter storms can range from a few hours of moderate snow to a blizzard with blinding, wind-driven snow that lasts for several days. They often bring dangerously low temperatures, strong winds, ice, sleet and freezing rain — and the danger is not only the snow itself. Most deaths in winter storms are indirect: car crashes, heart attacks from overexertion, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and house fires from unsafe heating.

The US National Weather Service calls winter storms “deceptive killers” for exactly that reason. Almost all of that risk can be reduced by preparing before the storm arrives. This article follows the guidance of Ready.gov (the US Federal Emergency Management Agency), the UK Met Office, and Public Safety Canada’s Get Prepared programme: what to do before, during, and after a storm.

Know the warnings

The first step is understanding what the forecast means. In the United States, the National Weather Service uses three terms:

• Winter Weather Advisory — snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle or sleet that will cause significant inconvenience and could become life-threatening without caution.
• Winter Storm Watch — a blizzard, heavy snow, heavy freezing rain or heavy sleet is possible, usually 12 to 48 hours ahead.
• Winter Storm Warning — heavy snow, freezing rain or sleet is imminent or occurring, usually 12 to 24 hours ahead. Under a warning, Ready.gov says to find shelter right away.

In the UK, the Met Office issues warnings in green, yellow, amber and red, based on both the likelihood of severe weather and its likely impact. A red warning means widespread deep snow, many roads closed or impassable, and a high risk of drivers becoming stranded. Whatever country you are in, sign up for your local warning system, and check the forecast before you travel.

Before the storm: your home

Start with the house, because that is where you will spend the storm.

Heat. Have your heating system checked by a qualified professional before winter, and install a carbon monoxide detector with a working battery. Home heating is the second leading cause of home fires, and winter is when most home fires happen — an estimated 32,200 home heating fires were reported to US fire departments in 2021. Never use a gas range or oven to heat your home. In the UK, the Met Office advises keeping your home heated to at least 18°C, especially if you are over 65 or have a health condition.

Pipes. Insulate exposed pipes, and know where your stop tap (stopcock) is and how to turn it off — a frozen pipe can burst and flood a house. If you will be away during cold weather, leave the heat on, set to no lower than 55°F (about 13°C). In the UK, the Met Office advises opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to let warmer air circulate around the plumbing.

Supplies. Ready.gov advises keeping enough supplies to last at least 72 hours without power — and Public Safety Canada’s Get Prepared programme gives the same 72-hour benchmark, calling it a minimum. Your kit should include water (at least two litres per person per day in Canada’s guidance), non-perishable food, a manual can opener, a flashlight, batteries, a battery-powered or crank radio, a first aid kit, several days of any medicines you take, cash in small bills, and copies of important documents. The Met Office suggests a “grab bag” with the same essentials plus a change of clothes, in case you have to leave home quickly. Store the power-cut helpline number on your phone: in the UK it is 105, a free service for England, Scotland and Wales.

Plan. Make a family communications plan: how you will contact each other and get back together if separated. Check on elderly or disabled neighbours and relatives before the storm, and make a warm place for pets indoors.

Before the storm: your car

Winter travel has unique risks, especially by car, and most storm deaths happen on the road. Get your car ready before the cold arrives: service the radiator and maintain the antifreeze level, make sure your tyres are in good condition, and use a screen wash additive to keep your windscreen clear of road grime.

Keep an emergency kit in the car: blankets, food and water, a first aid kit, a flashlight, jumper cables, a shovel, sand or cat litter for traction, and a tow chain or rope. The Met Office also recommends a windscreen scraper, a torch, extra batteries, water, non-perishable snacks, extra winter clothing and boots, and a fluorescent distress flag.

During the storm: stay put if you can

The single most important rule during a winter storm is simple: stay indoors. If you must go outside, walk carefully on snowy, icy walkways, dress in warm, loose-fitting, lightweight layers, and avoid overexertion when shovelling snow — overexertion can bring on a heart attack, a major cause of death in winter. Take breaks.

If the power goes out. Keep freezers and refrigerators closed. Throw away any food exposed to temperatures of 40°F (about 4°C) or higher for two hours or more, or that has an unusual odour, colour or texture. Use generators only outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages — never inside a home, garage, basement or crawlspace. Carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless.

If you are stranded in a car. Stay with the vehicle. Run the engine for about 10 minutes per hour to run the heater and charge your phone, and open a window slightly to let fresh air in and avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Clear snow from the exhaust pipe before starting the engine. Tie a bright cloth to the antenna so rescuers can see you.

Watch for hypothermia and frostbite. The signs of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. If you see them, get indoors and warm, and seek medical help. Ready.gov notes that 63% of temperature-related deaths are attributable to cold exposure. For frostbite, get out of the cold, warm the affected area gently, and do not rub it.

After the storm: the danger is not over

When the snow stops, the risks change rather than disappear.

Check on people first. Check on neighbours, especially older adults and people who live alone. In the UK, the British Red Cross Support Line is 0808 196 3651.

Shovel safely and watch for refreezing. Shovel slowly and take breaks. Clear snow from your car’s tailpipe before starting it, and from vents outside your home. Watch for refreezing overnight — black ice forms when rain or drizzle falls on a surface below 0°C, and compacted snow can turn to ice.

Food and power. If your home loses power or heat during periods of extreme cold, go to a designated public shelter. In the US, find the nearest shelter by texting SHELTER plus your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA). Restock your emergency supplies as soon as possible, and review your family emergency plan: note what worked and what ran out.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a Winter Storm Watch and a Warning?
A Watch means a blizzard, heavy snow, heavy freezing rain or heavy sleet is possible, usually 12 to 48 hours ahead. A Warning means severe winter conditions have begun or will begin soon, usually 12 to 24 hours ahead — find shelter right away.

Is it safe to run a generator during a power cut?
Only outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages. Never run a generator, grill or camp stove inside a home, garage, basement or any partially enclosed area. Carbon monoxide poisoning is a leading cause of storm-related deaths.

What should I do if my car gets stuck in snow?
Stay with the car. Run the engine about 10 minutes per hour for heat, open a window slightly for ventilation, clear snow from the exhaust pipe, and make the car visible to rescuers.

The bottom line

A winter storm is survivable if you prepare for it. Know the warnings, stock 72 hours of supplies, protect your home and your pipes, keep a kit in the car, and stay indoors when the storm hits. The most dangerous mistakes are all avoidable: driving when you do not need to, heating your home with a stove or oven, running a generator indoors, and shovelling snow too hard and too fast. Prepare now, while the weather is still fine — not when the snow is already falling.

For more on checking the claims you see about the weather and everything else, read How to Check a Viral News Claim Before You Share It and How to Read News 2026: Verify, Compare, Think Before You Share.

---

Related reading on WorldForbes

• How to Check a Viral News Claim Before You Share It — verify weather warnings and storm claims before sharing them.
• How to Read News 2026: Verify, Compare, Think Before You Share — how to read weather and emergency news critically.

Sources

• Ready.gov (FEMA), “#WinterReady” and “Winter Storms & Extreme Cold” (ready.gov/winter-ready) — 72-hour supplies, winter storm watch/warning definitions, heating fires (32,200 home heating fires in 2021), food safety at 40°F for two hours, stranded-car guidance (engine about 10 minutes per hour), heat no lower than 55°F, shelter text SHELTER + ZIP to 43362, hypothermia signs, 63% of temperature-related deaths attributable to cold exposure. Verified 9 November 2026.
• Met Office, “10 things you should do now to prepare for winter” and “Top tips to be WeatherReady” (weather.metoffice.gov.uk) — home heated to at least 18°C, power cut helpline 105, grab bag, pipe insulation and stop tap, tyre and screen wash checks, winter car kit, warning colours. Verified 9 November 2026.
• Met Office, “5 tips for staying safe in snow” — staying safe if cut off, never use a hob or oven to heat your home, British Red Cross Support Line 0808 196 3651, call 105 in a power cut. Verified 9 November 2026.
• Public Safety Canada, Get Prepared programme, as reported 5–7 November 2026 — households should be ready to cope for at least 72 hours; at least two litres of drinking water per person per day; basic kit list (food, can opener, flashlight, radio, first aid kit, cash, medications, documents).