Extreme cold and winter storm
Snow, ice or severe cold make travel dangerous and heating, power or water supplies may fail.
Warning signs
- Winter storm or extreme cold warning
- Freezing rain or heavy snow forecast
- Loss of feeling or colour in fingers, toes or face
Stay or go
Stay indoors and avoid travel during the storm. Go to a warm public shelter if you cannot keep your home safely warm.
Do now
- Never heat the home with a cooking oven or stove top.
- Run generators, grills and camp stoves only outdoors and away from windows. (continuity-9)
- Pick one room to keep warm, seal draughts and sleep there in layers.
- Keep space heaters and fires at least 1 m (3 ft) from anything that can burn. (safety-11)
- Avoid travel; if you must drive, tell someone your route and carry emergency supplies.
Then
- Dress in loose, warm, dry layers and cover face, ears, fingers and toes outdoors.
- Learn the signs of frostbite: numbness, lost colour, firm or waxy skin. Warm gently with warm, not hot, water. (safety-26)
- Treat hypothermia as an emergency: confusion, slurred speech or clumsy hands means get help and warm slowly. (safety-26)
- Protect pipes from freezing and know how to thaw them.
- If anyone feels dizzy, sick or weak, get them to fresh air at once. (safety-10)
- Check on older neighbours and families with babies.
Related steps
Sources
- Winter storm safety. American Red Cross, accessed 2026-11
- Get ready for winter weather. FEMA, accessed 2026-11
- If crisis or war comes (municipal edition, 2024). Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) / Linkoping Municipality, accessed 2026-11