In most storms, yes: go out early and shovel in short, repeated passes while the snow is still falling. Fresh, dry snow is lighter than snow that has packed down, melted or frozen. Clearing a couple of inches at a time is easier on your back and heart than facing a foot of it at the end. In Calgary, the bylaw clock also starts at snowfall, so a plan helps.
This guide covers when to start, how often to go out, how to do it safely in cold and wind, what Calgary rules apply, and when handing the job to someone else is the smarter call.
TL;DR
- Shovel early and often. Start once there is a light covering and repeat in thin passes, rather than waiting for the storm to end.
- Fresh, dry snow is lighter and more manageable than wet, packed or partly melted snow, according to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.
- Push the snow instead of lifting it, take frequent breaks, and stop if something feels wrong. Talk to your doctor first if you have heart or back concerns.
- In Calgary, sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours after snowfall, and private-property snow must stay on your property.
- In a severe storm with freezing rain, high wind or extreme cold, limit your time outside and consider hiring the work out.
Table of Contents
- Should you shovel while it’s still snowing?
- How often to go out during a storm
- What the Calgary bylaw means for your storm plan
- How to shovel safely in a storm
- Who should not shovel, and when to stop
- Severe storms, freezing rain and ice
- Our perspective: what we see on Calgary properties
- When to hand it over: our snow removal service
- Quick decision guide
- FAQ
- Sources
Should you shovel while it’s still snowing?
There are two camps. One says wait until the storm ends and do it once. The other says keep up with it. The evidence favours the second, with a caveat about how hard you push yourself.
The case for waiting is simple: you only do the job once, and you don’t clear a driveway that will be buried again an hour later. The problem is what happens to the snow in the meantime. It compacts under its own weight, and anything that gets walked or driven on turns dense. Wind-blown drifts add more. A foot of snow shovelled in one go is much heavier work than the same foot taken off in four passes.
The CCOHS advises shovelling early and often where possible, because fresh, dry snow is lighter and easier to move than wet, heavily packed or partly melted snow. University safety guidance says the same. The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s 2025 snow safety guidance recommends starting when there is a light covering and repeating, rather than waiting for the snow to stop and pile up. It also suggests taking deep snow off in one- or two-inch passes.
The total amount of work is not really smaller. The point is that you spread it out, and each pass is lighter, so you are less likely to strain something. That is a real difference for your back and heart, even if the clock time is similar.
How often to go out during a storm
A workable rhythm for most storms:
- Wait for a light covering. Going out at the first flake achieves nothing. A thin layer, around an inch or two, is the practical starting point.
- Clear in thin passes. UConn Extension advises shovelling intermittently once about two inches have fallen, which keeps surfaces safer and lowers the injury risk of clearing a big accumulation.
- Repeat as it builds. In steady snowfall, that may mean going out every hour or two. In a light, slow snowfall, once or twice may be enough.
- Do a final cleanup after it stops. Edges, the end of the driveway where a plough may have left a ridge, and steps need a last pass.
Don’t treat this as a schedule you must keep at any cost. If the wind is howling, the temperature has dropped sharply or visibility is poor, skipping a pass is better than pushing through it. A drift can be cleared later. A strained heart or back is harder to fix.
The best time of day
People also ask about the best time to shovel. The honest answer is that the best time is determined by the snow, not the clock: when it is fresh and light, before it has been packed down or has melted and refrozen. In practice that means during the storm, or soon after it. Shovelling right after a snowfall also keeps you ahead of the thaw and refreeze cycle that Calgary’s chinooks are known for, which leaves a hard sheet of ice on steps and walkways. We cover that in more detail in our guide on preventing ice on steps.
One more timing point from Alberta Health Services: avoid shovelling right after eating.
What the Calgary bylaw means for your storm plan
Storm timing matters more in Calgary because the rules are written around snowfall. The City of Calgary states that property owners must clear sidewalks within 24 hours after snowfall. The city’s Good Neighbour Practices guide says owners or residents are responsible for removing snow and ice to bare pavement from private and public sidewalks and driveways within 24 hours of snowfall.
For a multi-day storm, this means you don’t have to be out there every hour to stay legal. The practical approach is to keep paths open during the storm for safety, then finish properly once it ends. Our guide to Calgary’s sidewalk snow bylaw goes through the details, and the sidewalk clearing guide for homeowners walks through a typical property.
Where the snow can go
This is where people trip up in a heavy storm, when the piles get large.
- Snow from a public space such as a sidewalk may be placed on other public spaces such as the road. The city’s guide adds that on a public sidewalk it may go on the road or boulevard only if it does not block access.
- Snow from private property such as a driveway must not be moved onto public spaces. It stays on your property.
If a neighbour’s sidewalk is not cleared, the city directs residents to report private-property sidewalk problems through the Sidewalk Snow Report and City-property problems through 311.
Homeowners associations and commercial properties have their own questions about who clears what. See our pieces on HOA snow responsibility in Calgary and business sidewalk clearing.
How to shovel safely in a storm
Shovelling is real exercise, in the cold. The CCOHS puts numbers on it: lifting a shovel that weighs over 1 kg, loaded with about 5 kg of snow every five seconds, moves more than 70 kg per minute, and about 1,000 kg over 15 minutes. Alberta Health Services warns that the physical demand of shovelling combined with cold temperatures can pose fatal risks to the heart.
That is the reason for thin passes and breaks. Here is how to put the guidance into practice.
Before you go out
- Warm up. A few minutes of light movement before you pick up the shovel, as both CCOHS and AHS recommend.
- Dress in breathable layers. Cover your head, hands and feet. Layers let you vent heat before you sweat through them.
- Wear high-traction boots and keep your vision clear. Snow on glasses or a pulled-down hood in a blowing storm is a fall waiting to happen.
- Choose the right shovel. CCOHS recommends a lightweight shovel of an appropriate size. A smaller blade means lighter loads. A pusher-style blade suits fresh snow. For equipment ideas, see our snow removal equipment picks for Calgary homes.
While you work
- Push, don’t lift. Pushing snow to the side is less strain than lifting it.
- When you must lift, lift less. Take a manageable load and use your legs.
- Turn your feet, not your waist. Point your feet toward where the snow will go. Avoid twisting at the waist.
- Never throw snow over your shoulder or to the side. This is the move that tends to hurt backs.
- Work steadily and take frequent breaks. Drink warm, non-alcoholic fluids, and listen to your body.
Who should not shovel, and when to stop
People also ask, “When should you stop snow shovelling?” The answer is when your body tells you to. The CCOHS advises pacing yourself, taking breaks as needed and listening to your body, and it describes shovelling as strenuous work that is hard on the heart and back. It recommends talking to your doctor before starting.
Alberta Health Services says people who should seek medical advice before shovelling include older adults, people who are overweight or out of shape, and people with a family history of heart disease.
In practical terms:
- If you fall into one of those groups, ask your family doctor or pharmacist whether you should be shovelling at all. If the answer is “not much”, arrange help before the first storm of the season rather than during it.
- If you get chest pain or pressure, trouble breathing, dizziness or unusual fatigue while shovelling, stop. Chest pain or pressure is a reason to call 911, not to rest and go back out.
- If your hands, feet, nose or ears go numb or look pale and waxy, go inside. Calgary’s severe-weather guidance says people outdoors should dress in layers and watch for frostbite and hypothermia.
There is no age at which everyone must stop. What matters is your health, your fitness and the snow in front of you. A light inch is very different from a wet, heavy drift.
Severe storms, freezing rain and ice
Some storms are not a question of pacing yourself. The City of Calgary says severe winter storms can combine heavy snow, freezing rain, strong winds and cold temperatures. Its advice is to limit time outdoors, delay travel where possible and avoid overexertion while shovelling.
So in a severe storm:
- Shovel less, not more. Clear a path to what you need and leave the rest.
- Wind changes the equation. Drifts refill cleared areas fast, and wind chill raises the risk of frostbite. Go out when the gusts ease.
- Snow then ice is the worst combination. If freezing rain is forecast after snow, clearing the snow down to the surface before the ice arrives makes the ice far easier to manage. Once ice bonds to compacted snow, shovelling just won’t shift it. Treating steps and walkways soon after clearing helps; our guide on treating steps within 12 hours and the broader preventive snow and ice management guide explain how.
- Sloped driveways need earlier attention. Snow that gets compacted by tires on a slope turns to ice quickly. See our note on clearing sloped driveways in the first hour.
If you also have a move, delivery or appointment booked during a storm, build in some slack. This guide to winter moving with a one-day buffer shows how a spare day protects you from icy delays.
Our perspective: what we see on Calgary properties
We have looked after Calgary properties since 2017, and the same pattern comes up every winter. People who wait until the end of a big storm have the worst time of it. The snow has settled, a plough or a car has pressed some of it into the ground, and what could have been light work is now heavy and slow. The people who go out for a short pass or two have an easier time, and their driveways stay usable.
The other pattern is that shovelling is rarely what people want to spend a storm doing. The ones who call us are usually not lazy. They are older homeowners who have been told to avoid it, landlords with several addresses, HOA board members, or business owners who cannot have a customer slip at the door. For them, the real question is not technique, it is who will be there in time.
That is why we aim to respond within 6 hours of snowfall, rather than the 24 hours that is common elsewhere. It keeps walkways safe while the storm is on, and it keeps you within the city’s 24-hour window without standing outside in the wind. We know Calgary’s weather well, including the thaw and refreeze that makes a skipped pass into an icy problem the next morning.
Our advice is simple. If you are healthy and the snow is light, do thin passes early and enjoy the fresh air. If the storm is severe, if you have a health concern, or if you are managing a property you can’t watch, hire it out and stay inside.
— Lewie
When to hand it over: our snow removal service
If you would rather not be out there, we offer snow removal for residential and small commercial properties across Calgary. A monthly plan starts from $130 per month, and a single visit is $30 per service. Every visit is covered by our satisfaction guarantee. Check the page for what is included for your property type and size.
A monthly plan suits people who know they cannot shovel, and property managers who need consistent coverage. A one-off visit suits an occasional heavy dump when you are away or unwell.
Quick decision guide
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Light, dry snow, you are healthy | Thin passes during the storm, push rather than lift |
| Wet, heavy snow | Smaller loads, more breaks, go out more often so it doesn’t build up |
| Snow followed by freezing rain | Clear to the surface before the ice, then treat walkways |
| Strong wind and extreme cold | Limit outdoor time, clear only essential paths, wait for a lull |
| Heart or back concerns, or over 65 | Speak to your doctor first, arrange help in advance |
| Multiple properties or a business | Contract the work so it is done within 24 hours of snowfall |
For more on winter planning, see our snow removal tips for Calgary and what industry standards for snow removal mean for a homeowner.
FAQ
Is it better to shovel during a snowstorm or wait until it ends?
For most storms, shovelling in thin passes while it falls is easier on your body. Fresh snow is lighter than packed or refrozen snow. If the storm is severe, or the wind and cold are extreme, waiting for a lull is the safer choice.
How often should I shovel during a storm?
Start once there is a light covering and repeat as it builds. University safety guidance suggests removing deep snow in one- or two-inch passes, and UConn Extension suggests intermittent shovelling after about two inches. In steady snowfall, that usually means going out every hour or two.
When should I stop shovelling?
Stop when you feel chest pain or pressure, trouble breathing, dizziness, or numbness in your extremities. Take breaks as a matter of routine, and call 911 for chest pain. Pacing yourself and listening to your body is the core advice from the CCOHS.
Do I have to clear my sidewalk during the storm in Calgary?
The city requires sidewalks to be cleared within 24 hours after snowfall, not during the storm itself. Keeping a path open as it falls is sensible for safety, but the final clearing to bare pavement can wait until it stops. Snow from your driveway and private sidewalk must stay on your property.
Who should avoid shovelling snow altogether?
Alberta Health Services says older people, people who are overweight or out of shape, and people with a family history of heart disease should get medical advice before shovelling. If your doctor says to avoid it, arrange help before winter.
Sources
- CCOHS: Shovelling – Snow
- Alberta Health Services: Snow Shovelling Safety
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln: Safely Moving Snow
- UConn Extension: Snow Removal Tips
- City of Calgary: Clearing sidewalks and shoveling snow
- City of Calgary: What to do during a severe winter storm or extreme cold
- City of Calgary: Good Neighbour Practices reference guide