Words (Core Vocabulary)
- snowfall warning / freezing rain / ice pellets / blizzard
- black ice / slush / wind gusts / whiteout
- outage / downed line / generator / surge protector
- emergency kit (water, food, flashlight, batteries, radio)
- non-perishable / shelf-stable
- shovel / ice melt / sand / traction cleats
- winter tires / chains (where legal)
- drive only if necessary / essential travel
- school closure / service disruption
- check on neighbours / warming centre
Phrases (Plan → during event → after)
Before
- Is there a snowfall or freezing rain warning tonight?
- We’ll prepare an emergency kit and charge devices.
- Are winter tires/chains required on this route?
During
- Power’s out—is there an estimated restoration time?
- Roads are icy—I’ll work from home and reschedule.
After
- Sidewalks are icy—I’ll spread ice melt/sand and check on neighbours.
- Could we rebook deliveries/appointments for later this week?
Contextual Examples (Natural, everyday)
- Prep text: Snowfall warning—I’ll pick up batteries, sand, and extra water.
- Work note: Due to black ice, I’ll join remotely; new ETA for files: 3 p.m.
- Neighbour check: Do you need groceries or help shovelling?
Collocations & Phrases (bold the key words)
Preparation
- assemble an emergency kit
- charge phones/power banks
- install winter tires
- stock non-perishables
Safety
- avoid non-essential travel
- shovel safely
- spread ice melt/sand
- report downed lines (to utility—stay back)
Operations
- monitor closures
- reschedule appointments
- coordinate deliveries
Canadian Cultural Context (How to sound natural & polite)
- Many municipalities require sidewalk clearing by a set time after snowfall.
- Winter tires improve stopping; some routes require them seasonally.
- Keep fuel and cash on hand in case of outages.
Extra Mini-Patterns (plug-and-play)
- Outage: “Power’s out at [address]; ETA for restoration?”
- Reschedule: “Roads are icy—could we move our appointment to Thursday?”
- Neighbour: “Need anything while I’m out—salt, groceries?”