When a watch warns of deep snow and damaging gusts, use the time before it starts to stock supplies, secure loose objects, plan for a power cut and get the car ready, then avoid travelling unless you have to.
What you need before you start
Autoblog reports that winter storm watches have been issued for as much as 24 inches of snow, with gusts of up to 80 mph, from Friday. The report does not make clear exactly which areas are covered or how long the storm is expected to last. Check your own local forecast before acting on any of this guide.
A watch is not the same as a warning. In weather services that use the two terms, a watch means conditions are possible and you should get ready. A warning means they are expected or already happening. The steps below are meant for the watch stage, while shops are open and roads are still clear.
Before you start, you will need:
- A reliable way to get official alerts, such as a weather service app, local radio or a battery-powered radio
- A list of the people in your household with specific needs, including medication, mobility aid, infant supplies or pets
- Access to your car, its handbook and a fuel station
- A few hours, ideally spread over the days before the storm, not crammed into the final evening
Check the forecast and warning level
Find the alert issued for your own area, not a regional headline. Snow totals and wind speeds can change a great deal over short distances, especially near hills and coasts. Write down when the storm is expected to begin and peak, and when conditions are forecast to ease.
Check again at least once a day as the storm gets closer. Forecasts are revised, and a watch may become a warning or be withdrawn. Turn on alerts on your phone so updates reach you without you having to look for them.
Stock supplies for several days
Plan for a period when you cannot easily leave home and may have no electricity. Deep snow and strong winds together can block roads and bring down power lines, and repairs can be slow while the storm continues.
Gather:
- Drinking water and food that needs no cooking, such as tinned goods, bread, cereal and snacks, plus a manual tin opener
- Enough prescription medication to last beyond the expected disruption, and a basic first-aid kit
- Torches, spare batteries and charged power banks for phones
- Warm layers, blankets and sleeping bags for every member of the household
- Pet food and any supplies for infants or older relatives
Store everything in one place so you can find it in the dark. Do not rely on candles as your main light, because they are a fire risk.
Secure the outside of your home
Gusts of the strength described in the Autoblog report can pick up garden furniture, bins, trampolines and loose fencing and throw them into windows, cars or people. Walk around your property and bring indoor anything that can be moved. Tie down or weigh down anything that cannot.
Clear gutters and drains if you can do so safely from the ground, so meltwater has somewhere to go later. Look for dead or overhanging branches near the house or driveway. Do not climb ladders or roofs once the wind has picked up. If a tree looks unsafe, leave it to a professional.
Park the car away from trees, walls and power lines if you can. Put a snow shovel and grit or salt by the door, not in a shed that may be snowed in.
Prepare for a power cut
Charge every phone, laptop and power bank the evening before the storm is due. Learn where your fuse box or consumer unit is, and how to turn off the water supply if a pipe freezes and bursts.
To keep warm without power, choose one room to live in, ideally with few outside walls. Close doors to the rest of the house and cover windows with curtains or blankets. Wear layers and a hat indoors.
If you own a generator, only ever run it outdoors and well away from doors, windows and vents. Never use a barbecue, camping stove or outdoor heater inside, including in a garage. All of these produce carbon monoxide, which you cannot see or smell. Test your carbon monoxide alarm and smoke alarms now, and fit fresh batteries if needed.
Keep the fridge and freezer closed during a cut so they stay cold for longer.
Ready the car before the snow arrives
Fill the fuel tank, or fully charge an electric vehicle, before the storm. Petrol stations may close or lose power, and a full tank also gives you heat if you get stuck. Check tyre tread and pressure, top up screen wash with a winter-rated fluid, and make sure the battery, lights and wipers work.
Put together a car kit that stays in the vehicle:
- Ice scraper, de-icer and a small shovel
- Blankets, spare warm clothing, gloves and sturdy boots
- Torch, phone charging cable and a power bank
- Water and snacks that will not spoil
- Something to put under the tyres for grip, such as a mat or a bag of grit
- A high-visibility vest or warning triangle
Read the car handbook on snow chains or winter tyres if they are allowed and suit your vehicle.
Decide in advance whether to travel
The safest plan in a storm like this is usually not to drive. Make that decision before the storm begins, not on the morning itself. Talk to your employer, school or anyone you were due to visit, and move appointments if you can.
If you must travel, tell someone your route and when you expect to arrive. Clear all snow from the roof, windows and lights before setting off. Leave extra distance and drive gently. High winds are especially dangerous for tall vehicles, cars towing trailers and motorcycles.
If you get stranded, stay with the vehicle unless help is clearly close by. Run the engine only in short bursts for heat, and keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow so fumes cannot build up inside the car.
Mistakes people actually make
- Waiting for the warning. By the time a warning is issued, shops may be busy and the roads already difficult. The watch is when you prepare.
- Watching the snow total and ignoring the wind. Strong gusts cause drifting, falling trees and power cuts that can cause more trouble than the snow itself.
- Using fuel-burning equipment indoors. Generators, heaters and grills used inside are a well-known cause of carbon monoxide poisoning during power cuts.
- Letting phones run flat. People often use up their battery checking updates early in the storm, then have none left when it matters.
- Overexertion while shovelling. Heavy, wet snow is hard work. Clear it little and often, take breaks, and ask for help if you have heart or breathing problems.
- Assuming a 4×4 makes driving safe. Four-wheel drive helps you pull away but does not help you stop on ice.
When this approach is the wrong choice
This guide assumes you are staying at home and that home is safe. It is the wrong plan if local authorities tell you to evacuate, if your home is at risk of flooding or roof damage, or if someone in the household depends on powered medical equipment. In those cases, arrange in advance to stay with family, friends or at an official shelter before the storm arrives.
It is also not a substitute for official guidance. If the instructions from your local emergency services or weather service differ from anything here, follow theirs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a winter storm watch and a warning?
A watch means severe winter weather is possible in your area within the coming days. It is the signal to get ready. A warning means dangerous conditions are expected or already happening, and you should act on your plans straight away. The exact terms and thresholds differ between national weather services, so read the definitions used by the service that covers where you live.
How much food and water should I keep for a winter storm?
Keep enough for every person and pet in the home to manage for several days without going out or cooking on mains power. Choose food that needs no heating, such as tinned goods and cereal, and remember a manual tin opener. Many emergency agencies publish recommended amounts of water per person. Check the guidance from your national or local emergency management body for figures that apply to you.
Is it safe to run my car engine to keep warm if I get stuck in snow?
It can be, with care. Run the engine for short periods only. Check that the exhaust pipe is clear of snow before and while it runs, because a blocked exhaust can let carbon monoxide build up inside the car. Open a window slightly for fresh air. Stay with the vehicle, keep warm with blankets, and make yourself visible to rescuers.
What should I do with garden furniture before high winds?
Bring anything light or movable indoors or into a locked garage, including chairs, cushions, plant pots, toys and bins. Heavy items that cannot be moved should be tied down, laid flat or weighted. Trampolines and gazebos are especially likely to be lifted by strong gusts. Do this before the wind picks up, because handling large objects in a gale is dangerous.
Sources and further reading
- Autoblog: news report on the winter storm watches, including the forecast snow totals and wind gusts
- National weather services: official definitions of watches and warnings, and local forecasts
- National and local emergency management agencies: household preparedness checklists for severe winter weather
- Motoring organisations and road safety bodies: advice on preparing vehicles and driving in snow and high winds
Surfaced from the google:GB signal “winter storm watches issued”. AI-assisted draft, editorially reviewed.
