What to Do Before, During, and After Severe Winter Weather

Winter-storm readiness is more than buying bread and batteries. Severe winter weather can combine cold exposure, blocked roads, power and communication outages, falling trees, unsafe backup heat, vehicle emergencies, and delayed access to medication or help.

A useful plan answers four questions before conditions deteriorate:

1. How will everyone stay safely warm?
2. How will the household maintain food, water, medication, and essential medical support?
3. How will family members receive updates and communicate?
4. How will everyone avoid hazardous travel—or respond if travel becomes unavoidable?

The winter storm basics below follow the event from the first outlook through recovery. Current evacuation orders and instructions from emergency officials, utilities, clinicians, and equipment manufacturers always take priority over general guidance.

1. Know the hazards behind a winter storm

Winter weather creates interconnected risks. Snow, sleet, freezing rain, high winds, and extreme cold can make roads slippery or impassable, cause vehicle crashes, interrupt electricity and communications, bring down branches, and isolate households. A heating outage can then introduce additional hazards, including cold-related illness, fire from unsafe heating practices, and carbon-monoxide exposure from fuel-burning equipment.

Understanding the form of precipitation helps you anticipate what may fail:

• Snow can obstruct roads, reduce visibility, conceal ice, and make walking or driving difficult.
• Sleet forms when precipitation freezes into ice pellets before reaching the ground.
• Freezing rain remains liquid until it strikes a cold surface, where it freezes and coats roads, walkways, trees, and utility lines.
• Blowing snow may reduce visibility even when little or no new snow is falling.
• Refreezing can turn melted snow or slush into a new layer of ice after temperatures fall.

Freezing rain deserves particular attention. Even a relatively modest coating can affect roads, sidewalks, branches, power lines, and communications at the same time. Heavier ice increases the potential for tree and utility damage. Michigan emergency-preparedness guidance confirms that small ice accumulations can be hazardous and that freezing rain coats roads, walkways, trees, and power lines.

Wind chill is not a second air temperature. It describes how wind and air temperature combine to increase heat loss from exposed skin. A lower wind chill means exposed skin loses heat faster, but the thermometer still measures the actual air temperature.

A blizzard is defined by wind, visibility, and duration—not by bitter cold or a particular snowfall total. The standard definition involves sustained winds or frequent gusts of at least 35 mph, visibility at or below one-quarter mile in falling or blowing snow, and those conditions lasting at least three hours. Blizzard criteria do not require a particular temperature or amount of newly fallen snow.

Finally, “extreme cold” is relative to local climate, housing, infrastructure, and preparedness. Temperatures near freezing may create an exceptional emergency in a region where homes and utilities are not designed for sustained cold, while residents elsewhere may routinely experience temperatures well below zero. Use local warnings and emergency instructions rather than assuming one temperature carries the same risk everywhere.

2. Turn each winter-weather alert into an action

Weather alerts are most useful when each one triggers a specific decision:

Outlook—monitor. Watch—prepare. Advisory—use caution. Warning—act.

Alert	What it generally means	Household action
Outlook	Winter weather may develop several days ahead.	Monitor. Review plans, check supplies, identify schedule conflicts, and follow forecast changes.
Watch	Hazardous winter weather has become more likely, but timing, location, or severity remains uncertain.	Prepare. Finish practical tasks while roads and stores remain accessible.
Advisory	Hazardous conditions are expected and may cause significant inconvenience or danger if caution is not used.	Use caution. Reconsider travel, allow extra time, and monitor changing conditions.
Warning	Dangerous conditions are imminent or underway.	Act. Seek appropriate shelter, avoid travel, and follow official instructions.

An outlook commonly identifies possible conditions two to five days ahead, while a watch may refer to the next 36 to 48 hours. These are general planning windows, not guarantees. Forecasts change, and alert timing may differ with the event and forecast office. FEMA’s guidance reinforces the practical sequence of using an advisory as a prompt for caution, a watch as a prompt to prepare, and a warning as a prompt to act.

Different warnings identify different primary threats:

• A winter storm warning may cover a significant combination of snow, sleet, ice, and wind.
• An ice storm warning focuses on significant ice accumulation and the resulting travel, tree, and utility hazards.
• A blizzard warning focuses on the defined combination of strong wind, severely restricted visibility, and duration.

Do not use one region’s snowfall or ice cutoff as a national rule. National Weather Service forecast offices establish criteria appropriate to local climate and impacts. For example, the NWS central Illinois explanation presents warning and advisory criteria specific to its forecast area; thresholds elsewhere may differ.

The alert itself is only one information source. As conditions approach, monitor:

• Your local National Weather Service office
• Wireless and local emergency alerts
• Local emergency-management announcements
• Utility outage and restoration notices
• State and local road closures
• School, workplace, transit, and medical-provider updates

Always check when an alert, forecast, or road report was issued. An old screenshot or shared social-media post may no longer describe the storm’s timing, path, or intensity.

Translate each alert into household decisions:

• During an outlook: review medication, food, water, heating, charging, and transportation needs.
• During a watch: complete shopping, charge devices, bring animals to shelter, and move optional appointments.
• During an advisory: expect difficult conditions and use extra caution even if warning criteria are not met.
• During a warning: remain in or move to appropriate shelter and avoid travel unless officials direct otherwise.

3. Build a household plan and the right supply reserves

Use two supply layers rather than searching for one universal number.

A portable Go-Kit should contain at least three days of essential supplies. It should be compact enough to take if you must leave for a warming location, shelter, hotel, or family member’s home.

Where storage and finances permit, create a separate Stay-at-Home Kit with essentials for as long as two weeks. This longer reserve is intended for an extended utility outage, prolonged road closure, delayed delivery, or a period when travel is unsafe. The three-day portable and two-week stay-at-home targets reflect established emergency-planning guidance summarized in this winter-storm preparedness advisory.

These are planning targets—not promises that every event will end within that time or universal requirements for every household. Adjust them for household size, local storm history, rural or urban location, storage capacity, dietary restrictions, medical needs, and the likelihood of becoming isolated.

Plan water at one gallon per person per day for drinking and basic needs. Baltimore City uses one gallon per person per day for at least three days as its baseline winter supply recommendation. Pets and some medical or sanitation needs may require additional water.

Core home supplies

Gather supplies before the forecast creates a rush:

• Ready-to-eat, nonperishable food
• A manual can opener if stored food requires one
• Drinking water
• First-aid supplies
• Flashlights and spare batteries
• A battery-powered weather radio
• Phone cables, charged power banks, and vehicle-compatible charging options
• Warm blankets or sleeping bags
• Dry base layers, sweaters, coats, hats, gloves or mittens, and socks
• Water-resistant footwear with useful traction
• Personal-hygiene and sanitation supplies
• Copies of emergency contacts and essential household information
• Basic supplies that can be used without electricity

Prefer battery-powered lighting to open flames. Set a recurring reminder to inspect batteries, rotate stored food and water, replace expired supplies, and confirm that clothing still fits household members.

Household-specific needs

A generic kit is incomplete unless it accounts for the people and animals who will use it. Consider:

• Infant formula, feeding supplies, diapers, and extra clothing
• Mobility, communication, or sensory-support items
• Supplies for older adults or people who need help with daily activities
• Pet food, carriers, leashes, bedding, medication, and sanitation supplies
• Menstrual and personal-care products
• Comfort and activity items for children
• Backup keys, identification, and important contact information

Medication planning should be individualized. Prescription rules, insurance limits, storage requirements, and clinical needs vary, so no single reserve duration works for everyone. Contact clinicians and pharmacies early to ask about refill timing, safe storage, delivery interruptions, and what to do if access is delayed.

If someone relies on powered medical equipment, identify the equipment’s power requirements, available manufacturer-approved backup options, possible charging locations, and whom to contact during an outage. A general checklist cannot establish a complete continuity plan for oxygen equipment, refrigerated medication, powered mobility equipment, or other medical technology. Work with the clinician, supplier, utility, and local emergency-management agency.

Communication and relocation plan

Write down:

• Household and out-of-area contacts
• School, childcare, workplace, pharmacy, clinician, veterinarian, and utility numbers
• Two meeting locations
• Who checks on each household member
• How everyone will communicate if normal calling is unavailable
• Where the household can go if safe heat is lost
• How anyone without transportation will reach that location

Charge phones and power banks before the storm. Keep a paper contact list because a phone with a dead battery cannot retrieve stored numbers.

Prepare the workplace, too. A storm may prevent you from traveling home, interrupt normal routines, or close childcare earlier than expected. Keep basic warmth, water, food, medication, charging, and walking supplies where you spend substantial time.

4. Prepare the home for cold, ice, and utility failure

Begin home preparation before winter or during the outlook stage—not when ice is already accumulating.

Pre-storm home checklist

• Arrange appropriate maintenance for the primary heating system.
• Have fuel-burning heating equipment and its vents checked by a qualified technician.
• If a fireplace or wood stove may provide emergency heat, arrange an annual chimney or flue inspection.
• Replace worn weather stripping and caulk suitable gaps around doors and windows.
• Improve attic or wall insulation where practical and appropriate for the building.
• Insulate exposed or vulnerable water lines.
• Seal drafts near pipes where this can be done safely.
• Test smoke alarms and carbon-monoxide detectors.
• Check that vents are open, unobstructed, and properly routed.
• Confirm that a suitable fire extinguisher is accessible.
• Charge phones, power banks, and essential rechargeable equipment.
• Test flashlights, radios, and spare batteries.
• Review contingencies for essential medical equipment.
• Identify branches that could strike the building or utility lines.

The CDC recommends measures including water-line insulation, caulking and weather stripping, wall and attic insulation, annual chimney or flue inspection when applicable, qualified checks of fuel-burning equipment, and removal of branches that could fall on structures. Its winter-storm home and vehicle preparation guide emphasizes completing this work before severe conditions arrive.

Report branches threatening utility infrastructure to the utility or appropriate local authority. Use qualified professionals for work beyond routine maintenance.

Reduce the chance of frozen pipes

Pipe vulnerability depends on building design, insulation, pipe location, plumbing materials, and the duration of cold. General preventive steps include:

• Insulate vulnerable pipes, especially those near exterior walls or unheated areas.
• Seal nearby drafts where appropriate.
• Maintain suitable indoor heat.
• Know where the building’s water controls are located.
• Follow instructions from the property manager, plumber, local utility, or building authority.

Advice such as opening cabinets, dripping a faucet, or shutting off water may be appropriate for some plumbing systems but not others. Do not treat these steps as universal. Building- and plumbing-specific guidance should control.

If you rent or cannot modify the building

Focus on what is within your control:

• Report inadequate heat, drafts, leaks, alarm problems, or pipe concerns to property management early.
• Confirm how emergency maintenance requests are handled.
• Keep portable supplies, warm clothing, and charging options accessible.
• Test alarms you are responsible for maintaining.
• Sign up for official alerts.
• Identify a safe, warm place to relocate.
• Ask how building access, elevators, and common areas may be affected by an outage.

Do not alter central heating, ventilation, electrical, or plumbing systems without authorization and qualified guidance.

5. Stay warm during a power outage without creating a second emergency

Begin with low-risk heat conservation. Close curtains or blinds, reduce drafts around doors and windows with suitable materials, wear dry layers, add a hat and warm socks, and use blankets. Household members may gather in an appropriate part of the home to conserve warmth, provided that required vents and combustion-air openings remain unobstructed.

Keep clothing, blankets, and other combustible materials away from heaters, fireplaces, and hot surfaces. Monitor indoor conditions, household members, utility updates, and emergency announcements.

Age, health, clothing, moisture, duration, and the availability of safe heat all matter. Use the warm location identified in your plan if the home cannot be kept safely heated, or sooner if emergency officials or a clinician advises relocation.

Prevent carbon monoxide and fire

Generators belong outdoors and away from windows. Never operate one in an enclosed or partially enclosed space. Do not assume a garage, porch, balcony, breezeway, or similar area is safe. Generator placement depends on the property, openings, airflow, equipment instructions, and local fire rules.

Never use a cooking oven or stove to heat the home. Do not use a grill or camp stove indoors. When using a space heater or fireplace, keep curtains, clothing, bedding, furniture, paper, decorations, and other combustible objects at least 3 feet, or 1 meter, away. Follow manufacturer instructions if they require more clearance or additional precautions. These combustion and clearance rules are set out in the American Red Cross winter-storm safety guidance.

Safety equipment matters whenever alternative heat or backup electricity is in use:

• Carbon-monoxide detectors can warn of dangerous combustion gases.
• Smoke alarms provide early warning of fire.
• Clear vents and exhaust paths help fuel-burning systems operate as designed.
• A suitable fire extinguisher should be accessible for household members trained to use it.

Test alarms before the storm rather than waiting until backup heat is in use. Replace batteries or devices according to their instructions. National Weather Service guidance advises households to keep generators out of enclosed spaces and check carbon-monoxide detectors, smoke alarms, vents, and fire extinguishers.

A general article cannot determine whether a particular generator, heater, cord, transfer arrangement, or building setup is safe. Follow manufacturer instructions, utility requirements, electrical and fire codes, and directions from emergency officials. If safe operation is uncertain, do not use the equipment until a qualified professional has evaluated the setup.

6. Avoid travel when possible—and prepare before essential trips

Avoiding unnecessary travel is the safest default during dangerous winter conditions, especially after a warning, road closure, or official instruction to stay home. A familiar route can become hazardous because visibility, road treatment, drifting, traffic, and vehicle performance have changed.

Black ice may be difficult to see. Bridges and overpasses can freeze before other road surfaces, and snow that melts during the day can refreeze after temperatures fall.

Before essential travel:

1. Check the current local forecast.
2. Review state and local road conditions and closures.
3. Check official restrictions for the route.
4. Review the vehicle manufacturer’s cold-weather guidance.
5. Confirm that the destination is open and accessible.
6. Tell another person your destination, route, and expected arrival time.
7. Avoid traveling alone where possible.

In the United States, 511 may provide state traffic and road-condition information. Services and coverage vary, so use the relevant state transportation source and never rely solely on a navigation app that may not reflect an active closure.

Prepare the vehicle

Before winter travel, check or have a qualified technician inspect:

• Fuel or available charge
• Antifreeze and other appropriate fluids
• Windshield washer fluid suitable for expected conditions
• Lights
• Heater and defroster
• Wiper blades
• Tires, including tread condition and vehicle-specified pressure
• Brakes
• Battery
• Exhaust system

Do not apply a universal tire-pressure number. Use the vehicle’s tire-information label and manufacturer guidance. Likewise, no checklist can determine whether a specific vehicle is safe to drive on a particular road.

The National Weather Service advises drivers to prepare the vehicle, maintain adequate fuel, check road conditions, avoid traveling alone when possible, and share their planned schedule and route. Its winter travel preparation guidance also provides a broad vehicle-kit checklist.

Build a dedicated vehicle kit

Do not assume the home kit will be in the car when needed. Keep a separate, seasonally maintained vehicle kit containing:

• Warm coat, hat, gloves or mittens, socks, and water-resistant footwear
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Ready-to-eat food and water
• Necessary medication
• First-aid supplies
• Phone charger and power bank
• Flashlight and spare batteries
• Snow shovel
• Ice scraper and snow brush
• Traction material
• Jumper cables
• Basic tools appropriate for the vehicle
• Paper maps
• Bright cloth, reflective marker, or other signaling equipment
• Household-specific accessibility or medical supplies

Check the kit before long trips and replace damaged, expired, or depleted items.

7. Follow a complete stranded-vehicle protocol

Save or print this sequence before traveling:

1. Stop in the safest position available. Use hazard lights if appropriate and follow emergency instructions.
2. Contact emergency services or roadside help. Share your location, vehicle description, number of occupants, medical concerns, and available supplies.
3. Generally stay with the vehicle. It provides shelter and is easier for rescuers to locate than a person on foot.
4. Make the vehicle visible. Use lights when appropriate and display a bright or reflective signal.
5. Limit unnecessary exertion. Sweating, wet clothing, fatigue, and exposure can increase heat loss.
6. Use dry clothing, blankets, and other insulation. Keep the head, hands, and feet protected.
7. Before running the engine, clear all snow from the exhaust pipe.
8. Slightly open a window on the downwind side for ventilation.
9. If the vehicle can be operated safely, run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes each hour rather than continuously.
10. Recheck the exhaust repeatedly. Drifting or falling snow can block it again.
11. Conserve food, water, battery power, and fuel while continuing to signal for help.
12. Follow responders’ instructions.

The exhaust and ventilation conditions are essential. A blocked tailpipe can allow dangerous fumes to enter the passenger compartment. Baltimore City places the instruction to run the heater for about 10 minutes each hour alongside keeping the exhaust clear and slightly ventilating the vehicle.

Remaining with the vehicle is a strong general rule, not an absolute one. Do not decide to walk merely because help seems a fixed distance away. Visibility, wind chill, traffic, terrain, physical condition, clothing, location, and official instructions all matter. Leave only when circumstances or emergency responders clearly make that the safer choice.

If several people are in the vehicle, check one another for confusion, unusual sleepiness, or slurred speech. Do not let cold-impaired judgment lead to unnecessary walking or unsafe engine operation.

8. Recognize cold injury and protect higher-risk people and animals

Cold injury can develop outdoors, in an inadequately heated home, or in a stranded vehicle. Wetness, wind, exhaustion, insufficient clothing, and prolonged exposure can increase the danger.

Possible hypothermia signs

Hypothermia is an abnormally low body temperature. It can occur even when the air temperature is above 40°F if a person becomes chilled by rain, sweat, or cold-water exposure. Possible signs include:

• Shivering
• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Slurred speech

Suspected hypothermia requires immediate emergency medical care. Call emergency services and follow dispatcher instructions rather than relying on a general article for diagnosis or treatment. Local emergency-management guidance confirms that hypothermia can occur above 40°F when a person is wet or otherwise chilled.

Possible frostbite signs

Frostbite commonly affects the nose, ears, cheeks, chin, fingers, and toes. Possible signs include:

• Pain
• Numbness
• Changes in skin color

Seek prompt medical guidance.

Who may need additional planning?

Anyone can be injured by cold, but additional planning is particularly important for:

• Older adults
• Infants and young children
• People with certain health conditions
• People who remain outdoors for long periods
• People using alcohol or illegal drugs
• People with limited mobility or difficulty reaching a warm location
• People who may not sense or communicate temperature changes easily
• Anyone dependent on medication, electricity, transportation, or regular caregiving

The CDC notes that adults over 65 may be less able to sense temperature changes and may be more susceptible to cold-related health problems; its winter-weather guidance also addresses advance planning for household members and pets.

Arrange neighbor or family check-ins when conditions allow. A useful check-in asks specific questions: Is the heat working? Are medications and phone power available? Is there unfrozen water? Is transportation needed? Has an official evacuation or relocation instruction been issued?

Do not endanger yourself by traveling through closed roads or dangerous weather to make a check. Contact emergency services, local emergency management, a building manager, or another nearby support person if an in-person visit is unsafe.

Protect pets and livestock

Bring pets indoors when possible. If an animal cannot be brought inside, provide species-appropriate shelter from wind and moisture, adequate food, and access to unfrozen water. Check outdoor water frequently because a full container is not useful if it is frozen.

Prepare carriers, leashes, identification, medication, bedding, and sanitation supplies before the storm. Confirm that a planned warm location or shelter accepts animals, and identify an alternative if it does not.

Livestock plans should address sheltered areas, accessible feed, unfrozen water, safe access for caregivers, and backup arrangements if roads or power fail. Consult a veterinarian or local agricultural authority for species- and facility-specific guidance.

9. Keep using caution after the snow stops

The end of precipitation is not the end of the emergency. Temperatures may fall, melted snow may refreeze, untreated roads may remain impassable, and branches weakened by ice can fall later.

Continue monitoring official updates. Do not drive around barricades or assume a road is usable because another vehicle entered it. Delay unnecessary travel until authorities report that the route is open and conditions are manageable.

Watch for electrical and structural hazards

Stay well away from downed or sagging power lines and anything they touch, including fences, trees, vehicles, standing water, and debris. Report the location to the utility or emergency services. Never attempt to move a line yourself.

Inspect the property visually only when conditions are safe. Do not climb onto an icy roof or approach unstable trees, hanging branches, damaged structures, or electrical equipment. Use qualified professionals when a closer assessment is needed.

If pipes may be frozen, follow plumbing-specific instructions and contact the property manager or a qualified plumber. Avoid improvised thawing methods, particularly open flames or unapproved electrical heating arrangements.

Walk and clear snow cautiously

Assume wet-looking pavement may be icy. Use footwear with useful traction, take short deliberate steps, keep your hands available for balance, and use secure railings. Allow extra time rather than rushing.

Snow shoveling is strenuous. Pace the work, take breaks, use manageable loads, and stop before exhaustion. People with health concerns should ask a clinician whether shoveling is appropriate and arrange help when necessary. Snowblowers and other equipment introduce separate operating hazards, so follow their instructions and keep guards and safety features in place.

Find current help

Use current local sources for recovery information:

• Local emergency-management announcements
• Utility outage maps, alerts, and restoration instructions
• State road services, including 511 where available
• Local transit and school notices
• Warming-center or shelter information
• 2-1-1, where available, for community help involving food, utilities, transportation, or other local needs

FEMA advises residents to keep following local alerts because forecasts and conditions can change and identifies 2-1-1 as a resource for locating community assistance.

Frequently asked questions

How many days of food and water should I keep for a winter storm?

Maintain a portable Go-Kit with at least three days of supplies. Where practical, keep a separate Stay-at-Home Kit with enough essentials for as long as two weeks in case roads remain impassable or utilities are out for an extended period.

Plan water at one gallon per person per day, then add what is needed for pets and household-specific medical or sanitation needs. These are planning targets, not universal guarantees; adjust for local isolation risk, storage, household size, diet, and health needs. The supply durations and water amount are summarized in this winter-storm preparedness guide.

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

A watch means hazardous winter weather has become more likely, but important details such as location, timing, or severity remain uncertain. Prepare while conditions still permit.

An advisory means hazardous conditions are expected and could cause significant inconvenience or danger if caution is not used. Reconsider travel and monitor changes.

A warning means dangerous conditions are imminent or underway. Act, seek appropriate shelter, avoid travel, and follow official instructions. Local criteria vary, as the National Weather Service alert explainer illustrates.

In short: watch—prepare; advisory—use caution; warning—act.

Does a blizzard require extreme cold or a specific snowfall total?

No. A blizzard is defined by sustained winds or frequent gusts of at least 35 mph, visibility at or below one-quarter mile in falling or blowing snow, and those conditions lasting at least three hours. It does not require a particular temperature or snowfall total, as reflected in the blizzard-warning criteria summarized by local emergency management.

Can hypothermia happen when the temperature is above freezing?

Yes. Hypothermia can occur even above 40°F when a person becomes chilled by rain, sweat, or cold-water exposure. Shivering, confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech are possible warning signs. Suspected hypothermia requires immediate emergency medical care, according to local emergency-management cold-safety guidance.

What should I do if I am stranded in my car during a winter storm?

Contact emergency services when possible, share your location, and generally remain with the vehicle unless responders or conditions indicate a safer course. Make the vehicle visible, conserve warmth, and avoid unnecessary exertion.

Before running the engine, clear snow from the exhaust pipe and keep checking it. Slightly open a window on the downwind side. If operation is safe, run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes each hour rather than continuously. The intermittent-engine instruction must always be used together with exhaust clearance and ventilation, as specified in the American Red Cross stranded-vehicle guidance.

Remember the phase-based plan: monitor during an outlook, finish preparations during a watch, use caution during an advisory, and act during a warning. Prioritize safe heat, adequate supplies, medication and communication continuity, and avoiding hazardous travel. Continue taking precautions after snowfall ends, and always defer to current emergency, utility, road, clinical, and equipment instructions.