Winter precipitation can be difficult to predict, often arriving with varying degrees of intensity. If your business is prone to being affected by severe winter weather, your facility maintenance team can benefit by having access to a variety of snow shovels, pushers and blowers, as well as ice scrapers, choppers and roof rakes. Each tool is designed for a specific job; together they can help you address all types of precipitation. Here’s a look at the different degrees of winter weather precipitation and the best tools for each.

Light Snow

Light snow, often called snow flurries, occurs when snow falls for short periods resulting in minimal accumulation. It’s still important to remove light layers of blowing snow from walkways, steps, parking lots or anywhere foot traffic is expected.

Tools for Light Snow

Shallow, lightweight aluminum shovel: They aren't intended to hold a lot of snow and their primary purpose is for clearing.
Cordless leaf blower: Use leaf blowers for clearing light, fluffy snow that isn’t sticking to surfaces.
Push broom: Brooms and brushes both large and small work just as well for moving light snow as they are for collecting dirt.
Snow pusher: These are designed to work like snow plows and allow the user to stand upright while using.

Sleet

If temperatures hover around freezing or slightly warmer, freezing rain and sleet will fall. If freezing rain passes through a thin layer of freezing air and doesn’t have adequate time to freeze, it will freeze on contact with cold surfaces. These conditions result in slick sheets of ice and dangerous conditions on roadways.

Tools for Sleet

Ice melt: This is a great alternative to rock salt because it won’t damage concrete or wood surfaces.
Ice chopper and ice scraper: These tools work well for removing hard-packed snow and ice from surfaces.

Heavy Snow

Heavy snowfall, according to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is predicted when 4 inches of snow or more is expected over a 12-hour period, or 6 inches or more is expected over a 24-hour period. When heavy precipitation is expected, it’s important to try to shovel as often as possible to minimize shovel loads and to avoid excess muscle strain or back injury.

Tools for Heavy Snow

Aluminum shovel with large scoop: Some of these larger-scoop shovels also feature ergonomic handles that encourage proper posture and reduce back strain. While these shovels do hold more snow, it’s important to use the right one for your personal comfort and to avoid loads that are too heavy.
Electric snow blower: These make the quickest work of heavy snowfall, and are now available in smaller, easier-to-manage sizes.
Snow scoop: Scoops come in a wide range of sizes and are great for moving all kinds of loose material. 
Roof rake: If your roof is bearing substantial extra weight due to deep or heavy, wet snow, it's important to remove it as soon as possible because ice dams and icicles can form causing roof leakage and damaged gutters.

Blizzards

The term blizzard describes an intense winter storm with high winds. For a blizzard to occur, there must be winds of 35 mph or more with snow or blowing snow. Blizzards don’t always include falling snow, but conditions will reduce visibility to less than one-quarter mile for three hours or more.

Tools for Blizzard Conditions

Tarp: Protect vehicles and other outdoor machinery quickly when heavy, blowing snow is expected. 

Snow blower: These are the go-to for the fastest way to remove heavy snow accumulation. Clearing paths can range from 20 to 32 inches.

Snow pusher: Because blizzards don't always include additional accumulation, snow pushers can work great for snow that has blown onto driveways, walkways and areas designated for heavy traffic. 

No matter what kind of winter weather is on the way, you can head off the season's worst if you're prepared with a variety of tools for clearing snow and ice. Remember that clearing snow can be a difficult and sometimes dangerous job. Here are some additional tips for shoveling snow safely.