Snowstorms
Clearing heavy snow from the drive and the roof, and stopping ice dams.
What a snowstorm leads to
Snow removal
Clearing the driveway and the roof edge after heavy snow, safely, or hiring a contract to do it.
Ice dams
Why ice builds up at the eaves, how to stop it forming, and who clears it when it does.
Backup power for your home
Four ways to keep the furnace, fridge and sump pump running through an outage, and which of them need an electrician.
Emergency kit
What to have ready so your household can look after itself for at least 72 hours without power or tap water.
The plan
Before it: fill up and charge up
Keep the car’s tank at least half full or the EV charged, since gas stations and chargers can lose power too, and charge phones and power banks while you can.
During it: stay in, and keep the vents clear
Stay off the roads, where traffic lights may be out. Snow and ice can block appliance vents: check the outside vents for the furnace, dryer, fireplace and stove during and after the storm.
After it: check on people, then the house
Check on older neighbours and anyone with a medical need. If the power went out, bring it back in steps: thermostats up first, then the fridge and freezer, and wait 10 to 15 minutes before plugging in the rest (Get Prepared).
Safety: Never idle a car in the garage to warm up or charge phones while you wait out the storm (Get Prepared).
Guides
Questions about snowstorms
How do I get snowstorm warnings in Canada?
ECCC’s free WeatherCAN app pushes weather watches and warnings for the places you save, and Alert Ready sends emergency alerts to TV, radio and compatible phones. Weatheradio Canada has shut down (ECCC), so a weather radio’s weather band no longer helps in most of Canada.
How do I keep warm if the power goes out in a snowstorm?
Keep doors and windows shut: the federal outage guidance notes a closed-up house stays comfortable for several hours even in very cold weather. A natural gas fireplace can give warmth until the power is back, but a gas stove must not be used to heat the house (Get Prepared).
