Be Ready! For Severe Storms

Blizzards are defined by winds of 40 km/h or greater, and cause widespread reduction in visibility to 400 metres or less, due to blowing snow, or blowing snow in combination with falling snow, for at least four hours.

Blizzards can contribute to power outages, communications outages, car accidents, getting lost on-the-land, building damage or exposure to the elements leading to injury or death.

When a winter storm hits, stay indoors. 

• In wide-open areas, visibility can be virtually zero during heavy blowing snow or a blizzard. You can easily lose your way. 
• Avoid going out on-the-land if there is a blizzard in the forecast. Check the forecast before you leave your house.
• If you are out on-the-land, stay in your cabin or tent. Consider alerting people using an InReach or similar device.
• Shelter your animals. Generally, if the structure is sound, the animals should be placed indoors. Once they are inside, secure all openings to the outside. Water supplies should be checked for freezing.

If you must go outside in a blizzard, be prepared.

• Dress for the weather. Outer clothing should be tightly woven and water-repellent. The jacket should have a hood.
• Wear mittens - they are warmer than gloves - and a hat, as large portion of body heat is lost through the head.
•  If a blizzard or heavy blowing snow is forecast, you may want to string a lifeline between your house or cabin and any outbuildings to which you may have to go during the storm. If a blizzard strikes, do not try to walk to another building unless there is a rope to guide you or something you can follow.
• If you must travel during a winter storm, do so during the day and let someone know your route and expected arrival time.

If your car gets stuck in a blizzard or snowstorm, remain calm and stay in your car. 

• Allow fresh air in your car by opening the window slightly on the sheltered side - away from the wind. Beware of exhaust fumes and check the exhaust pipe periodically to make sure it is not blocked with snow. Remember: you can't smell potentially fatal carbon monoxide fumes.
• To keep your hands and feet warm, exercise them periodically.
• Avoid overexerting yourself. Overexertion in the bitter cold can cause death in certain cases.
• Keep watch for traffic or searchers.

Hail is pellets of ice falling from the sky, which can range in size from small to large.

 With enough hail, serious damage can occur to property. Hail most often occurs over spring and summer.

• Take cover when hail begins to fall. Hail comes down at great speed, especially when accompanied by high winds and cause injury and property damage.
• When a hailstorm hits, stay indoors, and keep yourself and your pets away from windows, glass doors and skylights which can shatter if hit by hailstones.

Heavy rain events have increased in some regions of the NWT in recent years. 

• Heavy rain can happen anywhere. In certain cases it can lead to localized or widespread flooding if conditions are severe enough.
• Consider checking the drainage around the house to reduce the possibility of basement flooding after a heavy rain.
• Be aware of potential flood risks due to the heavy rain coming in your area.

Learn more: Be Ready! For Floods

While relatively uncommon in the NWT, ice storms can cause serious damage to homes, vehicles, and critical infrastructure like power plants and powerlines.

Ice storms are caused by severe freezing rainfall. They generally occur in the lead-up to winter or during the spring thaw, when temperatures may be warm enough for rain to fall while conditions on the ground allow that rain to freeze.

• Ice from freezing rain accumulates on branches, power lines and buildings. If you must go outside when a significant amount of ice has accumulated, pay attention to branches or wires that could break due to the weight of the ice and fall on you. Ice sheets could also do the same.
• Never touch power lines. A hanging power line could be charged (live) and you would run the risk of electrocution. Remember also that ice, branches or power lines can continue to break and fall for several hours after the end of the precipitation.
• When freezing rain is forecast, avoid driving. Even a small amount of freezing rain can make roads extremely slippery. Wait several hours after freezing rain ends so that road maintenance crews have enough time to spread sand or salt on icy roads.
• Rapid onsets of freezing rain combined with the risks of blizzards increase the chances for extreme hypothermia.

Thunder and lightning storms can be dangerous to people on the land, contribute to power outages, and are the number one cause of wildfires in the Northwest Territories.

• Always take shelter during a lightning storm.
• There is no safe place outside during a thunderstorm. Safe shelter can be found either in an enclosed building or a hard-topped vehicle.
• If you can see lightning or hear thunder, you may be in danger. Seek shelter immediately.
• Wait 30 minutes after the last lightning strike in a severe storm before venturing outside again.
• Do not ride bicycles, motorcycles, tractors, or golf carts. These will not protect you from a lightning strike.

Learn more about wildfire:

• NWT wildfire update
• Reduce the risk of wildfire damage with FireSmart NWT
• Wildfire prevention and safety

Many areas in the Northwest Territories are very flat and do not have much tree cover. This means strong and gusty winds can happen almost anywhere in the NWT. These conditions can lead to property damage or create unsafe travelling conditions.