Be Prepared for Winter Weather

As we enter the winter season, it’s important to ensure everyone is prepared for potential weather-related challenges. Stay informed and take proactive measures with these tips and resources to help prioritize your safety and well-being during periods of inclement weather and minimize disruptions to patient care and clinical operations.

Preparing for winter weather at your site

Please look for emails from your leadership teams for specific information about preparing for inclement weather at your site. This will include information about warming shelters or other resources appropriate for meeting the needs of our patients.

Making a safe travel plan

Make a safe travel plan with these transportation options.

Check the weather

• Visit the National Weather Service website for the 7-day forecast for the Seattle area

Find out what’s open

• Check the UW Medicine clinic holiday schedule and winter weather information

Plan your routes

Discover planned service changes for inclement weather with these local guides:

• Metro’s snow route page and Metro winter guide
• City of Seattle Department of Transportation winter weather response guide (includes a link to snowplow map)
• Sound Transit: Riding transit in winter
• Pierce Transit: Extreme weather guide

Travel together and safely

• Make plans with your workmates to travel together
• Find rideshare options at Viva Engage
• Stay safe during winter travel with these know before you go and on the road winter resources
• If you are walking, wear slip-resistant footwear and read these tips to avoid falls on snow and ice; if you are biking, gear up and winterize your ride; if you are driving, get your vehicle ready for winter

Winter proofing and planning at home

Home and family are often the first things we need to address in an extreme weather situation. Having a personal plan in place will help you be ready to meet your work responsibilities and minimize disruptions to patient care.

Create a plan

• Ask yourself these three essentials questions to get your home ready for winter
• Create a checklist to help get you prepared
• Make a plan for school closures

Stay safe and warm

• Tightly secure windows and close blinds and curtains to conserve heat
• Learn how to prevent house heating fires and prepare for power outages.

Know where to go to learn more

• Visit the UW Medicine Emergency Management site (AMC login required) to find more winter weather resources
• Follow these UW Emergency Management tips for snow, ice and winter weather