You should generally shovel your driveway as early and as often as is safely practical during and right after a snowfall, instead of waiting for all the snow to pile up at once. This makes the snow lighter and easier to move and reduces the risk of ice forming and injuries from heavy lifting.
Best timing overall
- Start once there are a few inches (around 5–8 cm / 2–3 inches) on the ground rather than letting it reach a deep layer.
- Shovel in several shorter sessions during the storm and again shortly after it stops so it never gets too deep or packed.
Time of day
- Morning is often recommended because snow is firmer and less melted and refrozen, which helps prevent slippery ice and falls.
- Avoid very late-night or very early-morning shoveling if noise might bother neighbors; many communities consider 7 a.m. or later more acceptable.
Safety and weather considerations
- Do not shovel in dangerous conditions like blizzards, extreme cold, or when visibility is very low; wait until it is safe to be outside.
- If you have heart issues, are older, or are not used to heavy exertion, take frequent breaks, push snow instead of lifting, and stop if you feel chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness.
Practical rules of thumb
- Shovel every 3–4 inches of accumulation, especially if you have a long or wide driveway.
- Try to clear before driving over the snow, since compacted tire tracks can freeze into hard-to-remove ice.
- If the storm will drop a very large amount (20+ cm / 8+ inches), plan several passes during the storm so you are never dealing with the full depth at once.
