Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minutePrepare before the warning: check the battery, tires, coolant, wipers, lights, heater and other cold-sensitive systems; load a complete winter survival kit; and remove every bit of snow and ice from the vehicle before moving. Check the forecast and road reports before leaving. Postpone nonessential travel during a Winter Storm Warning, and do not drive during a Blizzard Warning unless the trip is an emergency. If travel is unavoidable, tell someone your route and arrival time, use main roads in daylight when possible, and be ready to stay with the vehicle if you become stranded.
The National Weather Service (NWS) reports that more than 5,000 people are killed and more than 418,000 injured in weather-related vehicle crashes in an average year; the page does not state the underlying data year. Its concise rule is: “TAKE IT SLOW IN THE SNOW.”
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Start before the storm warning
A heavy-snow forecast is not the time to discover a weak battery, bald tires or a heater that cannot keep the windshield clear. The NWS recommends checking and winterizing the vehicle before winter, then repeating the most important checks before a long trip. Use the NWS winter-preparation checklist as your baseline.
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- Have the battery tested if it is old, slow to crank or showing corrosion. Cold temperatures reduce available starting power, while snow-related delays may require repeated starts.
- Inspect battery terminals and cables for looseness or corrosion, and make sure the charging system is working.
- Carry booster cables and know where the battery terminals are located. Some vehicles require manufacturer-specified jump points rather than direct access to the battery.
Tires, pressure and tread
- Check inflation when the tires are cold and follow the pressure listed on the driver’s-door placard or owner’s manual, not the number molded into the tire sidewall.
- Inspect tread and look for uneven wear, cracks, bulges or embedded damage. The NWS specifically calls for good tread before winter travel.
- Ask a qualified tire dealer whether winter tires are appropriate for your vehicle and local climate. Four-wheel drive can help a vehicle move in some conditions, but it does not guarantee traction or shorter stopping distances.
Coolant and other fluids
- Confirm the coolant level and freeze protection are suitable for the expected temperatures. A cooling-system leak can leave you without cabin heat and damage the engine.
- Top up windshield-washer fluid with a winter-rated formulation. Do not dilute it with plain water when freezing weather is expected.
- Check engine oil, brake fluid and other fluid levels according to the owner’s manual, and repair leaks before the trip.
Wipers, defroster, lights and heater
- Replace streaking or torn wiper blades. Verify that the front and rear washers spray and that the nozzles are not frozen or blocked.
- Turn on the front defroster, rear defogger and heater. A strong airflow and clear windshield are essential for visibility.
- Test headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals, hazard lights and license-plate lights. Snow and road spray can obscure lamps that worked normally in dry weather.
Cold-sensitive equipment
Inspect belts, hoses, door seals and any system that has previously behaved poorly in cold weather. Keep the fuel level comfortably above empty so an unexpected delay does not become a second emergency. Finish repairs before the forecast worsens; parts, service appointments and roadside assistance may be harder to obtain once roads deteriorate.
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What should I keep in my car for a snowstorm?
Keep the kit in the passenger compartment or another place you can reach without unloading the vehicle into blowing snow. The NWS lists the following supplies in its winter safety guidance and winter-preparation guidance.
| Need | Items to carry | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Communication and navigation | Charged mobile phone, vehicle charger, spare batteries, paper maps and a compass | Cell coverage and battery life can be unreliable; a paper route remains usable when electronics fail. |
| Warmth | Blankets or sleeping bags, extra dry clothing, hats, gloves and sturdy footwear | Wet clothing and long waits in a cold vehicle accelerate heat loss. |
| Light and signaling | Flashlight with spare batteries, reflective or brightly colored cloth and a whistle if available | Helps rescuers locate you and lets you work outside briefly when necessary. |
| Food and water | High-calorie, nonperishable food and a water container | Provides energy during a delay. Replace supplies that expire or become damaged. |
| First aid and sanitation | First-aid kit, essential medicines, tissues, wipes, toilet supplies and a small amount of sanitation material | Supports routine medical and hygiene needs while you wait for help. |
| Snow removal | Windshield scraper and brush, plus a shovel | Clears windows, door areas and the exhaust outlet; a shovel also helps remove packed snow around the tires. |
| Traction and recovery | Bag of sand or cat litter, booster cables, tow rope and a basic tool kit | Improves tire grip on a short, controlled maneuver and supports a battery or recovery problem. |
| Personal needs | Child supplies, pet food and water, leashes or carriers, and any equipment specific to occupants | A commercial kit rarely matches every passenger’s needs. |
Check the kit at the beginning of winter and again before a major trip. Recharge the phone and flashlight, replace expired food and medicines, and make sure the shovel, scraper and cables are still present. The official list is a baseline, not a guarantee that a packaged kit contains everything your household requires.
Packaged kit or individual items?
| Approach | Advantages | Limitations and what to check |
|---|---|---|
| Packaged winter emergency kit | One purchase, organized storage and a quick way to cover common categories. | Contents vary. Compare the package item by item with the NWS list, then add missing food, water, medicines, child supplies, pet supplies, clothing or tools. |
| Assemble items individually | Best fit for your vehicle, climate, occupants and medical needs; you can select a full-size tool where a small bundled item would be inadequate. | Requires more planning and storage organization. Use a written checklist so communication, traction, warmth and first-aid items are not overlooked. |
Choose the shovel for the job
A compact shovel fits more easily in a trunk and is useful for clearing packed snow around a tire or exhaust pipe. A full-size shovel moves more snow with less bending and is preferable when your vehicle has enough cargo space. Whichever style you choose, keep it accessible and practice using it without blocking the road or exposing yourself to traffic.
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Make the go-or-no-go decision
Check both the forecast and current road conditions immediately before departure. In the United States, NWS guidance points drivers to their state’s 511 road-information service; local alert definitions and road closures vary by jurisdiction. Conditions can change faster than a forecast app updates, so check again if the trip is delayed.
What a warning means for your trip
| Situation | Decision | If travel cannot wait |
|---|---|---|
| Routine snowfall with passable roads and no severe alert | Travel only if the vehicle and driver are prepared, and allow extra time. | Use the driving practices below and keep the survival kit in the cabin. |
| Winter Storm Warning | Postpone nonessential driving. A warning signals hazardous conditions that may make travel dangerous. | Confirm closures and conditions, tell someone your route and expected arrival, and use main roads in daylight if an emergency trip is unavoidable. |
| Blizzard Warning | Do not drive except for an emergency. Blowing snow, whiteout conditions and rapid disorientation can overwhelm even a prepared vehicle. | Follow local emergency instructions. If already on the road, seek a safe place to stop before visibility collapses. |
Before leaving, send a trusted person your route, destination, vehicle description and expected arrival time. Agree on when they should call for help if you do not check in. Do not rely on four-wheel drive or an SUV as permission to ignore a warning: those systems help transmit engine power, but they do not prevent sliding on ice or packed snow.
Prepare the vehicle immediately before departure
Allow enough time to remove snow and ice completely. Do not clear only a small viewing hole or rely on the defroster to melt a thick layer while you drive.
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- Clear the roof first. Push loose snow off the entire roof, including the area above the windshield and rear hatch. NWS Chicago warns that roof snow can fly off while the car is moving and endanger drivers behind you; see its winter preparedness guidance.
- Free every window. Scrape the windshield, side windows, rear window and mirrors. Remove ice from wiper blades and make sure the blades are not frozen to the glass before switching them on.
- Uncover all lighting. Brush snow and ice from headlights, tail lights, brake lights, turn signals and hazard lights. Clean license-plate illumination if it is obscured.
- Clear cameras and sensors. Wipe forward-facing driver-assistance sensors and the backup camera lens. A snow-covered camera or radar sensor can give a false view or disable a safety function; do not assume an electronic warning means the system is still operating normally.
- Open and inspect the vehicle. Remove snow from door seams, the hood intake area and the hatch. Check that doors latch and that no exhaust outlet is blocked by a drift.
- Load the kit where it is reachable. Keep the scraper, brush, shovel, phone charger, flashlight, blankets and first-aid supplies available from inside the cabin. Secure loose cargo so it cannot become a projectile in a stop.
Never pour boiling water on glass; the sudden temperature change can crack it, and refreezing water can create a larger hazard. Use a scraper, the vehicle’s defroster and an appropriate de-icer instead.
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Driving when an unavoidable trip begins
Start only after checking the latest road report and confirming that your vehicle can maintain visibility. Buckle every occupant, turn off cruise control and drive below the speed that would be normal on dry pavement.
- Increase following distance. Leave substantially more room for braking because snow and ice reduce tire grip. Look farther ahead so you can ease off the accelerator rather than brake abruptly.
- Use smooth controls. Avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt braking and sharp steering. Make turns gradually and keep both hands available for steering.
- Do not use cruise control. It can encourage excessive speed and may cause unwanted throttle input when tires lose traction.
- Give snowplows room. Stay well behind active plows, do not pass them in a cloud of blowing snow, and remember that the road ahead of a plow may be worse than the cleared lane behind it.
- Use main roads and daylight when possible. They are more likely to receive priority treatment and easier for responders to reach, but they can still close without notice.
- Stop if visibility collapses. Pull completely off the travel lane at a safe location, use hazard lights and reassess conditions. Do not stop where a plow or emergency vehicle cannot pass.
The NWS summarizes the approach as “TAKE IT SLOW IN THE SNOW.” Four-wheel drive may help you get moving, but it does not make braking, cornering or a whiteout safe.
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What to do if you become stranded
Stay with the vehicle unless a safe, very close shelter is plainly visible and reachable. Wind-driven snow can erase tracks and disorient a person within minutes. A vehicle is easier for rescuers to find and provides protection from wind.
Immediate actions
- Call for help. Give your location, direction of travel, road name or mile marker, number of people in the vehicle and any medical needs. Send a text if a voice call will not connect, and conserve phone battery after the message is delivered.
- Make the vehicle visible. Turn on hazard lights. Tie a bright cloth to an antenna, mirror or door handle where it will not interfere with traffic. At night, use the interior light only while the engine is running to avoid draining the battery.
- Check the exhaust pipe immediately. Clear snow away from the outlet before starting the engine and repeat the check whenever drifting snow is present. A blocked exhaust can force carbon monoxide into the cabin.
- Run the engine intermittently for heat. NWS guidance recommends running it for about 10 minutes each hour, not continuously. Open a window slightly while it runs to reduce carbon-monoxide danger, and keep the exhaust outlet clear throughout the cycle.
- Layer clothing and use blankets. Keep dry clothing on, cover heads and hands, and share food and water in measured amounts. Do not consume alcohol as a warming strategy; it increases heat loss and impairs judgment.
- Monitor occupants. Watch for uncontrollable shivering, confusion, unusual sleepiness, headache, nausea or weakness. Treat these as possible cold exposure or carbon-monoxide emergencies and tell rescuers immediately.
Why carbon monoxide precautions are non-negotiable
Carbon monoxide has no reliable smell or color warning. Snow can plug an exhaust outlet even when the vehicle appears clear from the driver’s seat. The slightly open window, intermittent engine schedule and repeated exhaust checks are required together; one precaution does not compensate for skipping another. If anyone develops symptoms, shut off the engine, move to fresh air only if doing so is safe, call emergency services and report the possibility of carbon-monoxide exposure.
When leaving the vehicle may be justified
Leaving is generally more dangerous than waiting. Consider it only when a clearly visible, nearby building or staffed shelter is close enough to reach without losing the vehicle, and only if authorities or rescuers direct you. Do not walk into blowing snow to search for help. If you must move, leave a written note with your direction and time, take a phone and essential medication, and stay together.
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After conditions improve
Before resuming travel, clear fresh snow from the roof, lights, windows, sensors, camera and exhaust again. Check for damage from ice or drifting snow, confirm that the vehicle starts normally and verify the latest road status rather than assuming a closed route has reopened. Replace used kit supplies and recharge batteries when you reach a safe destination.
Choosing tires for your local winter
The choice between all-season and winter tires depends on the vehicle, temperatures, snowfall, ice, hills and how often you must drive. All-season tires can be adequate for some moderate climates, while winter tires are designed for better cold-weather grip; neither option overrides a road closure or severe-weather warning. Tire size, wheel clearance, pressure-monitoring requirements and local regulations are vehicle-specific. Ask a qualified tire professional for fitment advice, and use the same tread and pressure checks described earlier.
Quick Recap
| Comparison point | All-season tires | Winter tires |
|---|---|---|
| Typical fit | One set for drivers who encounter mixed conditions and limited severe winter weather. | Separate seasonal set for drivers who regularly face low temperatures, snow or ice. |
| Decision factors | Local climate, vehicle suitability, tread condition and the driver’s ability to postpone trips. | Cold-weather frequency, snow and ice exposure, storage for the off-season set and professional fitment. |
| What neither guarantees | No tire makes speeding, sudden maneuvers, a blizzard or a closed road safe. Traction remains limited by surface conditions. | |
A one-page departure checklist
- Forecast, warnings and state 511 road report checked immediately before departure.
- Nonessential trip postponed during a Winter Storm Warning; no travel during a Blizzard Warning except an emergency.
- Route, destination and expected arrival shared with a contact.
- Battery, tires and tread, coolant, washer fluid, wipers, lights, heater and defrosters checked.
- Roof, windows, mirrors, lights, sensors, backup camera and exhaust outlet fully clear.
- Phone, charger, batteries, blankets, dry clothing, food, water, first aid, medicines, flashlight, shovel, scraper, brush, tools, tow rope, booster cables, traction material, maps and personal supplies loaded.
- Cruise control off; speed reduced; following distance increased; no abrupt braking or sharp turns.
- If stranded: stay with the vehicle, signal, clear the exhaust, run the engine about 10 minutes per hour with a window slightly open, and contact rescuers.
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