Winter Storm Home Prep: What to Do Before Snow and Ice Hit

Winter storm watch, warning, and advisory: what changes

The National Weather Service uses a few different winter alerts, and local offices set the snow and ice thresholds for their area. For the house, the rule is the same as with freeze alerts: the watch is the better action deadline.

Extreme cold and wind chill have their own alerts. When those are in the forecast, use the frozen pipe guide alongside this one.

The winter storm checklist: before snow and ice arrive

• Pipes and outdoor water: disconnect hoses, close indoor shutoffs to outdoor faucets if you have them, and plan to open sink cabinets on exterior walls and drip a faucet if deep cold follows the storm. See how to prevent frozen pipes.
• Furnace and dryer vents: find where your furnace intake and exhaust and your dryer vent leave the house, so you can check them once snow falls.
• Power outage readiness: charge phones and power banks, set out flashlights and fresh batteries, and keep candles to a minimum. Test carbon monoxide and smoke alarms.
• Generator plan: if you have one, decide where it will sit outside, at least 20 feet from windows and doors. Never run it in a garage, basement, or any part of the house.
• Snow and ice supplies: shovels, ice melt, and boots by the door before the store shelves empty.
• Sump and drainage: if you have a sump pump, check that the outdoor discharge line is clear and will not be buried by snow. Clear gutters and downspouts while it is safe from the ground.
• Loose outdoor items: bring in or tie down patio furniture, decor, and bins that wind could move into a vent, window, or walkway.
• Trees: heavy snow and ice bring down weak branches. Have a qualified tree professional look at limbs over the house or power lines well before the storm, not during it.
• Supplies inside: water, food, and needed medications for a few days at home, plus warm layers and blankets.

Print the general Weather-Ready Home Checklist and the Storm Power Outage Home Checklist PDF, or browse the full printable checklist library. If the storm knocks out the power, see winter power outage home prep for keeping pipes from freezing with the furnace off and running a generator safely.

During the storm

• Stay inside and off the roads when the warning says travel will be difficult.
• Keep the thermostat steady and let a faucet on exposed pipe drip if temperatures drop well below freezing.
• Never heat the house with a cooking oven or stove, and never bring a generator, grill, or camp stove indoors.
• Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from space heaters.
• If someone feels dizzy, sick, or weak and carbon monoxide is possible, get everyone to fresh air and call emergency services.
• If the power goes out, report it to your utility and follow its updates.

After the storm: safe checks around the house

1. Vents first: once it is safe to go outside, clear snow from furnace intake and exhaust vents and the dryer vent so exhaust can escape.
2. Power lines: stay far away from damaged or fallen lines and report them to your utility. Watch for falling ice and branches.
3. Shovel carefully: take frequent breaks and work with a partner if you can. Overexertion from shoveling can bring on a heart attack.
4. Roof and ice dams: look from the ground for heavy snow, icicles along the eaves, sagging, or new leaks inside. Do not climb onto a snowy or icy roof; use a qualified professional. See ice dams and roof snow for raking from the ground and the signs of an overloaded roof.
5. Pipes: if a faucet only trickles, a pipe may be frozen. Follow the safe thawing steps.
6. Snowmelt: keep the sump discharge and downspout outlets clear as the snow melts. If a sump pump may have failed, use the safety-first sump pump guide.

Why an app, not another weather alert

A winter storm alert tells you what the weather will do. It does not tell you that your dryer vent sits low on the north wall, that the sump discharge runs into a snowbank, or that the garage has a water line. HomeGuard turns the storm forecast into the short list of tasks that fit your house, a day or two before the snow. It is software only, with no sensor, hub, valve, or device install.

For freeze timing, see when to winterize before the first freeze and the hard freeze warning checklist. For one city's winter routine, see the Buffalo first freeze checklist. For the full launch scope and pricing, see HomeGuard Weather features & pricing.

Sources and further reading

This guide follows National Weather Service winter watches, warnings, and advisories, NWS winter safety, American Red Cross winter storm safety, American Red Cross power outage safety, and IBHS Winter Weather Ready guidance.

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