Extreme cold and winter storms: what to do

Each step names the official source it comes from. Tap the name to see the source.

Before

Sign up for official weather alerts. A watch means get ready, a warning means act now.^{Red Cross}
Seal draughts with insulation, caulk and weather stripping, and insulate water pipes along outside walls.^CDC
Make a household plan that covers older relatives, children, pets and anyone with health needs.^Canada
Have chimneys and furnaces checked yearly, and fit battery carbon monoxide detectors near fuel-burning heaters.^CDC
Store at least two weeks of food, medicine and water, about 3.8 litres (1 gallon) per person daily.^{Red Cross}
Service the car before winter: antifreeze, tyres, battery and brakes. Keep the fuel tank nearly full.^CDC
Keep a winter car kit with blankets, warm clothes, a scraper, shovel, torch, water and snacks.^CDC
Learn first aid and CPR, and learn to recognise frostbite and hypothermia.^{Red Cross}

Stay indoors and avoid travel. If you must drive, go in daylight and tell someone your route.^{Red Cross}
Keep anything that can burn at least 1 metre (3 feet) from space heaters and fireplaces.^{Red Cross}
Never heat your home with a gas oven or cooking stove.^CDC
Run generators only outdoors, at least 6 metres (20 feet) from doors, windows and vents. Never grill indoors.^CDC
If anyone feels dizzy, sick or weak, get them into fresh air immediately. Carbon monoxide can kill.^{Red Cross}
Use torches and battery lights instead of candles during a power cut.^{Red Cross}
If stranded, stay in the car unless help is visible within about 90 metres (100 yards).^{Red Cross}
Run the engine about 10 minutes each hour, with the exhaust clear of snow and a downwind window open slightly.^{Red Cross}

Shivering, confusion, slurred speech or drowsiness can mean hypothermia. Treat it as an emergency and get medical help.^CDC
While waiting, move the person somewhere warm, remove wet clothes and wrap them in blankets, head covered.^NHS
Do not use hot baths, hot water bottles or heat lamps, rub their limbs or give alcohol.^NHS
For frostbite, remove rings and wet gloves, then soak the area in warm, not hot, water.^NHS
Never rub frostbitten skin or warm it with a fire, radiator or heat lamp, and do not walk on frostbitten feet unless you have to. Seek medical care.^CDC
Keep well away from fallen power lines and watch for falling branches and ice.^{Red Cross}
Shovel snow slowly with frequent breaks, ideally with a partner. Overexertion can trigger a heart attack.^{Red Cross}
If your home becomes too cold, go to a warming centre, library or a friend's home.^{Red Cross}

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How do I prepare for extreme cold and winter storms?

Sign up for official weather alerts. A watch means get ready, a warning means act now.^{Red Cross}
Seal draughts with insulation, caulk and weather stripping, and insulate water pipes along outside walls.^CDC
Make a household plan that covers older relatives, children, pets and anyone with health needs.^Canada
Have chimneys and furnaces checked yearly, and fit battery carbon monoxide detectors near fuel-burning heaters.^CDC

What should I do during extreme cold and winter storms?

Stay indoors and avoid travel. If you must drive, go in daylight and tell someone your route.^{Red Cross}
Keep anything that can burn at least 1 metre (3 feet) from space heaters and fireplaces.^{Red Cross}
Never heat your home with a gas oven or cooking stove.^CDC
Run generators only outdoors, at least 6 metres (20 feet) from doors, windows and vents. Never grill indoors.^CDC

What should I do after extreme cold and winter storms?

Shivering, confusion, slurred speech or drowsiness can mean hypothermia. Treat it as an emergency and get medical help.^CDC
While waiting, move the person somewhere warm, remove wet clothes and wrap them in blankets, head covered.^NHS
Do not use hot baths, hot water bottles or heat lamps, rub their limbs or give alcohol.^NHS

What should I have ready for extreme cold and winter storms?

Answers are based only on the sourced steps on this page and their official sources.

Steps are written in our own words from these pages. If advice from your local authority differs, follow your local authority.

Last reviewed against these sources: 1 November 2026.