Winter Readiness Tips

• Stay off roads if possible.
• If you need to go outside, wear layers of warm clothing.
• Watch for signs of frostbite and hypothermia.
• Avoid overexertion when shoveling and walking in snow. This can help reduce the risk of a heart attack.
• Winterize your home by installing weather stripping, insulation and storm windows. Prepare your vehicle for cold weather use before winter arrives.
• Prepare for weather-related emergencies, including power outages.
• It’s best to clear your sidewalk as soon as it’s safe to do so after the snowfall has stopped. Some locales mandate 24 hours after snowfall has ceased. Baltimore County law—Roads, Bridges and Sidewalks, 18-3-107 Removal of Snow and Ice—states that sidewalks must be shoveled within 24 hours after a snow storm. Baltimore County relies on reports from the public when sidewalks have not been cleared.
• It’s important to shovel snow onto your own property and not onto public streets or your neighbor’s property.
• If you have a driveway, it’s often best to wait until after the plows have cleared the road. This can prevent the plow from pushing snow back onto your freshly cleared driveway.
• Bridges and overpasses typically freeze before roads—approach with caution.
• BaltCo 311 allows you to quickly report problems or request a service in Baltimore County.

Snow Data

Learn more about annual snow removal data from the Highways and Roads Division.