Winter Storm Safety Tips for Home and Car

At home during a winter storm, keep three days of water, food, and prescriptions on hand, seal drafts and dress in layers, check on older neighbors, and stay away from downed power lines and ice-loaded trees. In the car, avoid travel once a warning is issued; if you must drive, slow down, leave at least five to six seconds of following distance, skip cruise control, and treat bridges as icy.

“Winter storm” covers more than snow. The same system can bring heavy snow in one county, sleet in the next, and a glaze of freezing rain farther south, followed by dangerous cold once it clears. Each brings a different hazard: Snow strands drivers, ice brings down trees and power lines, and extreme cold turns a routine outage into a health emergency.

That is why winter storm safety splits naturally into two places, the home and the car, and why the alerts matter so much. These winter storm safety tips start with what each National Weather Service alert means, then cover how to stay safe at home, how to drive in winter weather, and what to keep in the vehicle.

Winter Weather Alerts: What Each One Means

The National Weather Service issues several different winter alerts, and the wording tells you how seriously to take the forecast. Criteria are set by each local forecast office, so the snowfall needed for a warning in the northern Plains is higher than in the Southeast. Here is what each alert means in practice.

Note the last row. The National Weather Service now uses Extreme Cold Warning and Cold Weather Advisory in place of the older Wind Chill Warning and Wind Chill Advisory names, so older guides may still use the previous terms. A NOAA weather radio with SAME alerts will sound for any of these in your county.

How Do You Stay Safe at Home During a Winter Storm?

To stay safe at home during a winter storm, prepare for the specific hazard in your forecast. A snowstorm mostly means staying put, an ice storm means long power outages and falling trees, and an extreme cold event means protecting people and the house from the temperature itself. Have three days’ worth of water, food, and prescriptions in the house for all three, plus a NOAA radio so you know which one you are facing.

Cold is the hazard that gets underestimated at home. Seal drafts before the storm with weatherstripping or rolled towels at the bottom of doors, keep curtains closed at night and open on sunny windows during the day, and dress everyone in layers indoors rather than relying on the thermostat alone. Bring pets inside. Check on older neighbors and relatives, who lose body heat faster and may not notice how cold their home has become, and set a time each day to call them during a long cold snap.

Watch the roof as well. Heavy, wet snow and ice add real weight, and ice dams along the eaves can push meltwater under shingles and into the walls. Keep gutters clear before the season, and if you hear creaking or see sagging ceilings during a heavy storm, leave that part of the house. Do not climb onto an icy roof to clear it yourself.

If the power goes out and you need to heat the house, the rules for doing it safely, from generator placement to space heaters and frozen pipes, are covered in detail in our blizzard safety tips. Start with a NOAA unit from Emergency Radios and lighting from Power & Light, then round out the pantry with Food Rations and water storage and filtration, plus a First Aid kit.

Ice Storms and Freezing Rain: The Hazards Snow Does Not Bring

Ice is the most underestimated part of a winter storm. A quarter inch of ice adds heavy weight to every branch and power line, and that is why ice storms cause some of the longest power outages of the year. They also make every outdoor surface dangerous at once, often with no visible warning.

Stay away from trees and power lines during and after an ice storm, since loaded branches can snap without warning. Treat every downed line as live, keep well back, and report it to your utility and to 911 rather than approaching it. Walk slowly with short, flat-footed steps on any outdoor surface, spread sand or ice melt on steps and walkways before you need them, and wear boots with good traction. Expect a longer outage than with a snowstorm, and plan your heat and food accordingly.

How Do You Stay Safe Driving in a Winter Storm?

The safest way to drive in a winter storm is not to. Once a winter storm warning or ice storm warning is issued, stay home unless the trip is a true emergency. If you have to drive, slow down well below the speed limit, accelerate, turn, and brake gradually, and leave far more room than usual. AAA advises extending the normal following distance of three to four seconds on dry pavement to at least five to six seconds on slippery roads, and longer on ice.

Never use cruise control on snow or ice, because it can spin a drive wheel the moment it hits a slick patch and makes a skid harder to recover from. Treat bridges, overpasses, and shaded stretches as icy, since they freeze first and melt last. Clear all snow from the roof, hood, windows, and lights before you leave, keep your headlights on, and tell someone your route and arrival time before you set out.

How to Handle a Skid on Snow or Ice

Skids happen fast, and the instinctive reactions, slamming the brakes and jerking the wheel, make them worse. If your vehicle starts to slide, ease off the accelerator, look where you want the car to go, and steer smoothly in that direction. Avoid sudden braking.

If you need to brake, how you do it depends on your car. With anti-lock brakes, press firmly and steadily and let the system pulse; do not pump the pedal. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply steady pressure. And remember that all-wheel and four-wheel drive help you get moving, not stop: They do not shorten your stopping distance on ice.

Getting Your Car Ready for Winter Storms

Most winter breakdowns start with a car that was not ready for the cold. Tire pressure drops roughly 1 psi for every 10-degree fall in temperature, so check it often once winter arrives, and make sure your tires have enough tread for snow, or switch to winter tires if you drive in it regularly. Cold also weakens car batteries, so have yours tested before the season, especially if it is more than a few years old.

Switch to winter wiper blades and a washer fluid rated for freezing temperatures, since summer fluid can freeze on the windshield exactly when you need to see. Never let the tank drop below half in winter, and replace a worn defroster or heater before the first storm, not during it.

Every vehicle should also carry a winter emergency kit, with the essentials available in roadside emergencies. For the full kit list and what to do if you get stranded in a storm, see our blizzard safety tips.

The Winter Storm Mistakes That Cause the Most Injuries

The injuries that fill emergency rooms after a winter storm follow a familiar pattern, and most come from ordinary decisions made in a hurry rather than from the storm itself.

The first is driving during a warning because the roads look manageable, then finding black ice on a bridge. The second is using cruise control or following too closely on slick pavement. The third is heading into winter with a car that is not ready for it: Low tire pressure, a weak battery, or summer washer fluid that freezes on the glass. The fourth is walking near ice-loaded trees or touching downed lines after an ice storm. The last is slipping on unsalted steps, one of the most common winter injuries of all. Every one of these is avoided by a little quiet work done ahead: Supplies in place, the car ready, and a decision made in calm weather to stay home before anything goes wrong.

FAQ

How Do You Stay Safe at Home During a Winter Storm?

Prepare for the hazard in your forecast: Snow, ice, or extreme cold. Have three days of water, figured at one gallon per person for each day, food that needs no cooking, your prescriptions, and a NOAA radio. Seal drafts, dress in layers indoors, bring pets inside, and check on older neighbors and relatives during a cold snap. Keep gutters clear to reduce ice dams, stay away from downed power lines and ice-loaded trees, and follow safe heating rules if the power goes out.

How Do You Stay Safe Driving in a Winter Storm?

Avoid driving once a winter storm or ice storm warning is issued. If you must drive, slow down, accelerate, turn, and brake gradually, and extend your following distance from the usual three to four seconds to at least five to six seconds, longer on ice. Never use cruise control on snow or ice, treat bridges and overpasses as icy, and prepare the car before the season with proper tire pressure, a tested battery, and freeze-rated washer fluid.

What is the difference between a winter storm watch and a winter storm warning?

A winter storm watch means conditions are favorable for a significant winter storm, but its timing, location, and amounts are still uncertain, so it is the time to prepare. A winter storm warning means a significant combination of snow, sleet, ice, or wind is occurring or imminent, so it is the time to stay off the roads and shelter at home. Exact criteria vary by local National Weather Service office.

Is freezing rain more dangerous than snow?

In many ways, yes. Freezing rain coats roads, walkways, trees, and power lines in a glaze of ice that is often hard to see. An ice storm warning is usually issued for around a quarter inch of ice or more, enough to make travel extremely dangerous and to snap branches and power lines, which leads to widespread and often lengthy power outages.

How far apart should you drive in snow or ice?

AAA advises extending the normal following distance of three to four seconds on dry pavement to at least five to six seconds on slippery roads, and more on ice. Pick a fixed point ahead, and count the seconds between the car in front passing it and your car reaching it. All-wheel and four-wheel drive do not shorten stopping distance, so the same rule applies to every vehicle.