4 tips to stay safe during a snowstorm

On By Littum

It’s that time of year to watch out for one of the most dangerous and underrated winter hazards while on the road: Snow showers.

A blizzard is a short period of intense snowfall and wind that leads to whiteout conditions, zero visibility, a possible flash freeze and dangerous traffic accidents. Snow showers are most common in the northern United States—especially around the Great Lakes—between the months of November and March.

Snowstorm vs. blizzard

The main difference between a blizzard and a blizzard is the duration of the event. Snow showers are usually extremely intense and very short-lived (on the order of 30-60 minutes), and may maintain this intensity throughout its duration in a localized event. A blizzard can last for several hours or even days and typically affects a much wider geographic area.

According to the Ministry of Transport, every year “Over 1,300 people are killed and more than 116,800 people are injured in vehicle crashes on snowy, slush or icy pavements annually.”

So what should you do if you’re caught in this potentially deadly weather phenomenon? Check out these four easy actions you can take to stay safe during a snowstorm.

1. Delay the journey.

There is no safe place on the road during a snowstorm.

When snow showers are in the forecast, the safest course of action is to avoid or delay motoring. Enjoy a hot drink or that breakfast you never have time for and wait out the storm. Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings at weather.gov or your local National Weather Service Forecast Office before you go out.

2. Activate wireless emergency alerts on your mobile phone.

If you are unable to delay travel, be ready to respond if a snow flurry warning is issued for your area. The best way to stay informed is to make sure you have Wireless emergency alarms activated on your mobile phone. These alerts will cause your phone to vibrate and sound an alarm (if enabled) when a significant impact snow flurry warning has been issued by the National Weather Service. If you receive a warning, leave the road at the next opportunity and wait 30-60 minutes or until the warning expires.