Home · Safety
Public guidance
What the Weather Service tells people to do
This page quotes public National Weather Service safety wording. It is not a substitute for official local warnings, forecasts or emergency advice where you are.
On its winter warnings page, the National Weather Service says a Blizzard Warning means falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely, leading to whiteout conditions making travel extremely difficult. [NWS WARNINGS] Its advice is: do not travel. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle and wait for help to arrive. [NWS WARNINGS]
If you are indoors
If you are caught in a winter storm inside a home or office, the National Weather Service says: stay inside. [NWS SAFETY] The Service also warns people to avoid overexertion such as shovelling heavy snow, pushing a car or walking in deep snow if they are not in good health, because the strain from the cold and the hard labour may cause a heart attack. [NWS SAFETY]
If a vehicle is stuck
If your car gets stuck during a storm, it says: stay in the vehicle. If you leave, you will become disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow and cold. [NWS SAFETY] It advises running the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat, opening the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, and clearing snow from the exhaust pipe. [NWS SAFETY]
A Blizzard Warning is a different product from a Winter Storm Warning. A Winter Storm Warning, by contrast, is issued for a significant winter weather event including snow, ice, sleet or blowing snow, or a combination of these hazards — travel may become difficult or impossible, and the Service says to delay travel plans until conditions improve. [NWS WARNINGS]