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Prepare for winter weather

  • 12/06/2021

~ from Hennepin County news

Are you prepared to stay safe this winter? Minnesota's winters can be a great time to get out and explore.

But winter also presents many hazards that we need to prepare for – including extreme cold, snow, and ice – and our changing climate means an increased frequency of freeze/thaw cycles, ice storms, rain on snow events, and heavy snowstorms.

Create emergency kits to prepare for winter weather

Heavy snow or ice storms can make it hard to get out to get what you need. So, it’s a good idea to be prepared to hunker down for a few days and to stay safe when traveling on our roads. See ready.gov's list of what to include in an emergency kit at home and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s list of what to include in a winter driving survival kit.

Get outside safely

As long as you’re prepared, Minnesota winters are a great time to get out and explore! Remind yourself how to dress for chilly, cold, and extremely cold weather with this helpful graphic from weather.gov (PDF).

Also learn the signs of hypothermia and frostbite and the avoid, spot, treat approach from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Avoid getting hypothermia or frostbite by dressing properly and knowing who is at greater risk. Know how to spot the signs and symptoms and treat anyone who is experiencing symptoms properly to avoid further risks. Learn more in the avoid, spot, treat infographics (PDF).
 
Now that you’re prepared for cold weather, get out and explore! From downhill and cross country skiing to snowshoeing, fat biking and ice skating, there are many different winter activities to try. And fortunately, there are many rental options available so you can try out a new winter activity without having to invest in new equipment. Find options in our Choose to Reuse article on renting winter sports equipment.

Clear snow and ice and use salt responsibly to protect water

Using salt on sidewalks, driveways, parking lots and roads can help improve safety, but too much salt pollutes our water and can harm pets and wildlife. Melting snow and ice carries salt into our lakes, rivers and streams, permanently polluting our water. And with more freeze/thaw cycles and ice storms, salt pollution is a concern throughout the winter.

Do your part to minimize your impact this winter by following Clean Water Minnesota’s 4 steps to using sidewalk salt responsibly:

  1. Shovel early and often
  2. Select the right product for the right temperature
  3. Scatter to use salt sparingly
  4. Sweep up leftover salt and sand
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