2024’s Snowiest Counties

What are your top three tips for clearing snow safely?

1. Know your own physical limitations and respect them. Clearing snow is intense work. Even if you consider yourself to be in good shape, take breaks, go inside, take off your winter weather gear, and deliberately rest. If you have a lot of snow to clear, commit to this more than once.

2. Know the current conditions and respect them. For example, “wet” snow looks largely the same as lighter-density snow, but you’ll be moving 2-3 times the weight with each shovel-full. You also can’t see air temperature and wind chill when you look out the window, but these factors can create life-threatening conditions at the extreme.

3. Be particularly careful working at the end of your driveway — especially if visibility is already poor because of falling snow or darkness. Plowed snow banks make the road narrower while hiding you from an approaching driver, and the car will require a longer braking distance in bad weather. Consider wearing a high-visibility vest or other clothing with your usual winter coat.

What, if anything, can homeowners do ahead of a snowstorm to make cleanup easier?

It’s important to buy at least one snow shovel and a bucket of salt before the bad weather starts. In the fall, move these tools to an easily accessible storage spot within your house or garage, where they can live through the winter when not in use.

Who should invest in a snow blower?

Snow blowers are the most attractive option when you have a long driveway, as they make easy work of it. However, snow blowers need shelter and they need to be thoughtfully maintained — plus they aren’t as easy to steer as lawnmowers.

The more property you have to clear, the more attractive an investment they become, despite their disadvantages. Also, the more property you have, the less you worry about where the snow blower is throwing your snow, which isn’t always easy to control.

What are three ways snow can damage your home or property?

1. If your roof isn’t well insulated the snow will melt against it and you can get “ice dams” where meltwater runs down to the colder edge of the roof and freezes again. More meltwater then builds up behind the dam, where it soaks shingles and seeps into your house.

2. Ice dams and the icicles that hang from them can bend gutters or strip them off your house.

3. If it snows enough, the weight of snow can collapse a roof. Some roof types and trusses fail faster than others, so you can get your home inspected to determine if it is more vulnerable and if it can be reinforced to hold up under greater weight. You can also buy a roof rake, for pulling snow off your roof, to avoid that heavy build-up.

When is the best time to shovel snow?

I’ve heard that it’s better to shovel in the morning, when the snow is fluffiest. Regardless of the time, I try to shovel as it snows, letting a few inches accumulate before I easily clear it away — even though I know I’ll be back out in a few hours to do the same thing again and again.

What are your top three tips for clearing snow safely?

1. Wear warm clothes, snow boots with good traction, and waterproof gloves.
2. Do not overexert oneself. Do the snow clearing in stages if needed.
3. Use a snow thrower and/or blower, or hire someone to do the work.

What, if anything, can homeowners do ahead of a snowstorm to make cleanup easier?

Check that all snow-clearing equipment is in good condition.

If a gas-powered snow blower is used, make sure there is enough gas, and if an electric-powered snow thrower is used, make sure it is fully charged — or have backup batteries ready.

Who should invest in a snow blower?

Anyone who can afford one.

What are three ways snow can damage your home or property?

1. Ice dams forming on the edges of sloped roofs can:

• Cause damage to gutters and shingles.
• Cause roof leaks.
• Lead to the formation of mold and mildew and [resulting] damage to ceilings, walls, and insulation.

2. Falling icicles can be dangerous.

3. If the roof is not properly designed for snow load, excessive buildup of snow could cause roof collapses.

When is the best time to shovel snow?

When there is enough light (natural or artificial) and when the conditions are safe.