Quick Summary
Meteorologists are predicting a colder, snowier winter than initially expected—and we're already seeing it play out.
This checklist covers the 7 most important tasks to complete this weekend, before the next storm hits your area.
Table of Contents
1. Why Is Winter 2025-26 Different From Recent Years?
2. What Are the 7 Most Important Winter Prep Tasks?
3. Your Weekend Action Plan
Why Are Winter Storms Getting Worse?
If it feels like winter weather has gotten more unpredictable in recent years, you're not imagining it.
Power outages happen much more frequently during bad weather today than they did just a decade ago.
That’s right, weather now causes 83% of all power outages in the United States. And when those outages happen in winter, the stakes are higher—hypothermia can set in within hours when temperatures drop below freezing.
And this winter is shaping up to be especially active.
La Niña conditions—a cooling of Pacific Ocean temperatures that influences weather patterns—are bringing wetter weather to the Great Lakes, Plains, and Ohio Valley, which means more snow and ice weighing down power lines.
But this doesn’t mean you should start panicking…
No, smart preparation this weekend can put your family ahead of whatever winter brings.
Let us show you how.
What Are the 7 Most Important Winter Prep Tasks?
1. Test Your Backup Heating Systems Now
Many people own generators or space heaters but have never actually used them. Run your Grid Doctor Solar generator for 15 minutes under actual load this weekend—not just idling. Plug in a space heater or lamp so you're testing it the way you'll use it during an emergency.
Don’t worry, it can take it!
If you're relying on alternative heating like the Vesta Self-Powered Indoor Space Heater, test it now to ensure you understand how it operates and how much area it effectively heats.
Check fuel levels for Canned Heat, propane, kerosene, or whatever your backup system requires. Make sure extension cords can handle heater wattage, and test your carbon monoxide detectors. You don't want to be reading the manual by flashlight in 20-degree weather.
2. Stock Winter-Specific Food and Water
You can't just run to the store when roads are covered in ice. Check your 72-hour Kit and add high-calorie comfort foods—your body burns more calories staying warm in cold weather. Include hot beverage options like coffee, cocoa, or tea.
Store water where it won't freeze, or know how to safely thaw frozen containers. Freeze-dried foods in #10 cans work well because they require minimal water for preparation and have decades-long shelf life. One can of freeze-dried beef or chicken provides multiple meals without refrigeration.
3. Protect Your Pipes Before Temperatures Drop
Burst pipes cause thousands in damage—and you often don't discover the problem until pipes thaw and water floods your home. Insulate exposed pipes in unheated areas this weekend. Make sure everyone knows where the main water shutoff valve is located.
During extreme cold, keep cabinet doors open under sinks and let faucets drip slightly. If you have water storage containers as backup, they become invaluable if pipes freeze and you lose running water.
4. Set Up Alternative Cooking Methods
When it's 15 degrees outside, you need an indoor cooking option that's safe to use. The Ember Oven gives you a wood-burning option with proper ventilation, while camp stoves with canned heat or InstaFire fuel offer safe indoor alternatives.
⚠️ Critical safety note: Never use outdoor grills or generators indoors.
Practice making one meal with your backup method this weekend so you know what works.
5. Prepare Your Lighting and Communication
Winter storms often hit at night, and December's short days mean more darkness. Place flashlights in every bedroom so no one has to stumble through darkness. Charge all power banks and weather radios, and test battery-powered lanterns.
The Solar Flashlight & Weather Radio w/ Hand Crank keeps you informed about storm updates even when the power grid is down.
Program emergency contacts into everyone's phones, and keep one flashlight on your nightstand where you can reach it immediately.
6. Winterize Your Vehicle and Fuel Storage
Your car might become your only warm shelter during an extended outage. Keep gas tanks above half-full to prevent fuel line freezing and ensure you can run the car for heat or evacuate if needed. Add winter emergency kits with blankets, hand warmers, and extra supplies.
Check antifreeze levels and battery condition—cold weather is brutal on batteries. If running a generator, store extra fuel safely now, following local fire codes. Never store gasoline indoors or near heat sources.
Our NEW Essential Car Survival Kit has everything you need to make every drive a safe one.
7. Create Your Family Winter Emergency Plan
Designate one room as your "gathering room" during outages—it's easier to heat one space than the whole house. Assign roles to each family member, even kids with simple tasks like distributing flashlights.
You can even practice one "lights out" evening as a family. Turn off power at the circuit breaker and spend two hours using emergency supplies. You'll discover what's missing and what works well. Review the plan with anyone who regularly cares for your children so they know where supplies are stored.
Bonus points if you make it fun for the kids!
Your Weekend Action Plan
These seven tasks might seem like a lot, but you don't have to do everything at once.
Start with the task that worries you most. Is it the thought of losing heat? Test your generator first. Concerned about frozen pipes? Tackle insulation this weekend.
Whatever brings you the most peace of mind, do that task first—momentum will carry you through the rest.
Even completing three of these items puts your family well ahead of most households. And once you've worked through this checklist, you'll notice something: that constant background worry about winter storms starts to fade. In its place grows a quiet confidence that says, "We've got this handled."
Winter storms will come—that's guaranteed. But with smart preparation this weekend, your family will face them with readiness instead of panic.
