Severe winter weather brings ice, heavy snow, power outages and dangerous cold.

How to prepare your home

  • Insulate pipes and let faucets drip during extreme cold to prevent freezing.
  • Service your heating system yearly and install carbon monoxide detectors.
  • Keep emergency heat sources and extra blankets available.
  • Stock food, water, medications and flashlights for multi-day outages.
  • Clear heavy snow from roofs when safe to prevent structural stress.

Official sources

All states ranked by winter storms risk

Alaska Alaska faces the highest possible winter storm risk (5 out of 5) due to its extreme cold, heavy snowfall, and… Very High Maine Maine is rated level 5 (highest) for winter storm risk, with severe nor'easters, heavy snowfall, freezing… Very High Minnesota Winter storms pose a very high risk to homes across Minnesota, with blizzards, extreme cold, ice, and heavy… Very High Montana Montana faces the highest possible winter storm risk in the National Risk Index, rated 5 out of 5. Blizzards,… Very High New Hampshire New Hampshire faces an extreme (Level 5 of 5) winter storm hazard, with heavy snow, ice, and extreme cold… Very High North Dakota North Dakota faces a level 5 winter storm risk, among the highest in the nation, characterized by extreme… Very High South Dakota South Dakota experiences some of the most severe winter weather in the United States, including blizzards,… Very High Vermont Vermont faces one of the highest winter storm risks in the nation, with heavy snow, ice, and extreme cold… Very High Wisconsin Wisconsin faces an above-average risk of winter storms, including heavy snowfall, blizzards, ice, and extreme… Very High Wyoming Winter storms pose a severe and recurring threat across Wyoming, with extreme cold, heavy snow, blizzards,… Very High Colorado Colorado experiences severe winter storms characterized by heavy snow, blizzard conditions, and extreme cold.… High Connecticut Connecticut faces a significant winter storm risk, rated 4 out of 5, with nor'easters bringing heavy snow,… High Idaho Idaho faces a significant winter storm risk, rated Level 4 of 5, with heavy snow, ice, and extreme cold… High Illinois Illinois faces a high (level 4 of 5) risk from winter storms, including heavy snow, ice, and extreme cold.… High Indiana Indiana faces a high risk (level 4 of 5) from winter storms, including heavy snow, ice, and extreme cold.… High Iowa Iowa faces a high risk of winter storms due to its flat landscape and the collision of Arctic and Gulf air… High Kansas Kansas faces a high risk (level 4 of 5) from winter storms, including blizzards, ice storms, and extreme… High Massachusetts Massachusetts is rated Level 4 (High) for winter storm risk. The state frequently experiences nor'easters,… High Michigan Michigan faces a high level 4 of 5 winter storm risk, driven by its Great Lakes location and frequent Arctic… High Nebraska Winter storms are a serious hazard in Nebraska, rated level 4 of 5. Blizzards, ice storms, and extreme cold… High New York New York experiences frequent and severe winter storms, including lake-effect snow, blizzards, and ice… High Ohio Ohio is rated level 4 of 5 for winter storm risk, with significant hazards from snow, ice, freezing rain, and… High Pennsylvania Pennsylvania faces a high risk of winter storms, rated 4 out of 5, with heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain… High Rhode Island Rhode Island faces significant winter storm risk, including nor'easters with heavy snow, ice, and coastal… High West Virginia Winter storms in West Virginia bring heavy snow, freezing rain, and ice, especially in higher elevations,… High Delaware Delaware faces a moderate (level 3 of 5) winter storm risk, with nor'easters bringing heavy snow, ice, and… Moderate District of Columbia Winter storms in the District of Columbia can bring snow, ice, freezing rain, and extreme cold, posing… Moderate Kentucky Kentucky faces a moderate but serious winter storm threat each year, with ice and freezing rain often causing… Moderate Maryland Maryland has a moderate (level 3 out of 5) winter storm risk. Winter storms bring snow, ice, sleet, and… Moderate Missouri Winter storms are a significant hazard in Missouri, which is rated level 3 out of 5 for this risk. Ice… Moderate New Jersey New Jersey faces a significant risk of winter storms, rated level 3 of 5. Heavy snow, ice, and nor'easters… Moderate Oklahoma Oklahoma is rated level 3 of 5 for winter storm risk, meaning communities face significant threats from snow,… Moderate Utah Utah is rated level 3 of 5 for winter storm risk, meaning communities across the state can face heavy snow,… Moderate Virginia Virginia faces a moderate risk from winter storms, with heavy snow, ice, and freezing rain most common in the… Moderate Washington Winter storms in Washington vary by region, bringing heavy snow to the mountains and occasional ice or… Moderate Alabama Winter storms in Alabama are less frequent and intense than in many northern states, but the state still… Low Arizona Winter storms in Arizona primarily affect the state's higher elevations, bringing snow, ice, and freezing… Low Arkansas Winter storms are a moderate but real risk in Arkansas, with the highest threat in the northern and western… Low California California faces winter storm risks including heavy mountain snow, freezing rain, and intense low-elevation… Low Georgia Georgia faces a moderate (level 2 of 5) winter storm risk, primarily from ice storms and occasional snow in… Low Nevada Winter storms in Nevada are most significant in the higher elevations and northern regions, bringing snow,… Low New Mexico New Mexico faces a moderate winter storm risk (level 2 of 5) due to its high elevations and mountain ranges.… Low North Carolina North Carolina faces a moderate winter storm risk (level 2 of 5), with the western mountains experiencing… Low Oregon Oregon experiences a Level 2 winter storm risk, with significant hazards including heavy mountain snow,… Low Tennessee Tennessee experiences winter storms each year, with moderate risk statewide and higher risk in eastern… Low Texas Winter storms in Texas are relatively rare but can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, sleet, and snow,… Low Florida Winter storms are a low but real risk in Florida, especially in the northern part of the state. Freezing… Very Low Hawaii Winter storms are rare and generally low-impact in Hawaii, but the state still experiences heavy rain, strong… Very Low Louisiana Louisiana has a low winter storm risk, rated Level 1 out of 5, but freezing temperatures and ice can still… Very Low Mississippi Winter storms in Mississippi are uncommon but can still bring freezing rain, ice, and occasional snow,… Very Low South Carolina South Carolina has a level 1 (low) winter storm risk, but freezing rain and ice can still disrupt the state,… Very Low

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