The East Coast of Canada got absolutely hammered with snow a week ago. I’m talking having to dig out a window. Vehicles buried. Unbelievable.
Check it out:

First question that comes to mind for me is, if exterior doors swing outward, how do people get out?
Their only option is to dig out a window. Best to keep a shovel on hand inside.
Fortunately, in areas that get snow and most residential buildings generally, exterior doors swing inwards rather than outwards.
From the door it’s basically tunneling a way out or digging a trench.
Is suffocation a risk when a house is buried in snow?
It’s possible to suffocate if your house is fully buried in snow. I didn’t find any actual story on this but it can happen as a result of the following:
- Oxygen Depletion: When a house is buried in snow, ventilation systems may become blocked, preventing fresh air from entering the home. This can lead to a gradual decrease in oxygen levels inside, as the occupants continue to breathe, converting oxygen into carbon dioxide. If the snow is packed tightly around the house and seals off windows, doors, and other air intakes, the reduction in oxygen can reach dangerous levels, potentially leading to suffocation.
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: There’s also a risk of carbon monoxide (CO) buildup in houses covered by snow. Heating appliances and generators that burn fuel produce carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly if inhaled in sufficient quantities. Normally, CO is vented outside the house, but if vents and chimneys are blocked by snow, CO can accumulate inside, leading to poisoning. This is particularly dangerous because CO binds to hemoglobin in the blood more effectively than oxygen, severely reducing the body’s ability to transport oxygen.
Related true story: Trapped at home, Southern California woman’s front door blocked by 9 feet of ice
A more real risk is getting buried alive standing under roof overhangs
Tragically, a mother and son died by being buried in snow that fell from a roof. People get injured regularly. I had a scary incident at a local ski hill when my son was six years old. He was a few feet away from the overhang fortunately, but a massive chunk of snow three feet deep slid off the roof and landed only a few feet from him. That’s a ton of weight landing on someone and can do some real damage.
Roof collapse is real…
Once out, homeowners need to get snow off the roof. The ONLY silver lining is falling off the roof is not as much of a threat given will fall in snow. That said, if deep enough, it’s possible to literally drown in deep snow. Hazzards everywhere.
Check it:

- Light, Fluffy Snow: Light snow typically weighs about 7 pounds per cubic foot. A roof designed according to modern building codes in areas prone to snowfall can usually support 20-30 pounds per square foot of snow before becoming stressed.
- Wet, Heavy Snow: Wet snow can weigh significantly more, approximately 12-18 pounds per cubic foot. This means that a foot of wet snow is more likely to stress a roof than a foot of dry, fluffy snow.
- Ice: One inch of ice is equivalent to about a foot of fresh snow. Ice accumulation can add significant weight and stress to a roof.
Building codes in areas prone to heavy snowfall generally require roofs to be designed to withstand snow loads of 30 pounds per square foot or more. This can typically accommodate 2-4 feet of fresh snow, or 1-2 feet of wet, heavy snow, before the risk of collapse increases. However, these are rough estimates, and the actual capacity can vary widely based on the specific conditions and construction of each building.
What that means is ultra heavy snow falls can collapse a roof.
Do snowblowers even function in 4 feet of snow?
Not really. Not even the best ones. If snow levels exceed the intake height of the snow blower, it’s not nearly as effective. Here’s a breakdown on snowblowers which is good to know if buying one:
- Single-Stage Snow Blowers: These are suitable for light to moderate snowfalls, typically up to about 6-8 inches deep. They work best on smooth, paved surfaces because the auger that scoops up the snow also comes in contact with the ground.
- Two-Stage Snow Blowers: These can handle deeper snow, usually up to about 12-18 inches. They have an auger to break up the snow and an impeller to throw the snow out of the chute. They are suitable for larger areas and can handle different types of snow, from light and fluffy to wet and heavy.
- Three-Stage Snow Blowers: These are even more powerful and can deal with snow depths of up to 18-23 inches or more. They have an additional auger or accelerator that helps to break up and move heavy snow more efficiently than two-stage models.
We’re in the thick of winter. It’s an El Niรฑo year which means while it’s warmer than usual, it delivers tons of precipitation. If in an area that happens to get cold enough for snow, it can result in massive dumps.