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The Radio for Winter Severe Weather: Staying Connected Through Blizzards, Ice and Outages

By Detroit Snow Pros · October 18, 2026

Winter is coming to metro Detroit, and with it the storms that knock out power and overload phones: blizzards, lake-enhanced snow and, worst of all, ice storms. In February 2023, an ice storm left hundreds of thousands of southeast Michigan homes without power, some for days. When the power is out and cell service is spotty, a two-way radio is one of the few ways to keep talking.

We already wrote a full GMRS radio guide covering how the service works. This post is about using it when winter weather hits.

Why a radio still matters in a storm

• It does not need a cell tower. Radio to radio, a GMRS set talks directly with other radios on the same channel.
• It works when the power is out. A mobile radio runs from the vehicle's 12-volt system.
• It reaches the whole crew at once. One push of the button and every truck, shovel crew or family member on the channel hears you.
• It brings weather alerts. The Midland MXT295 has built-in NOAA weather radio with alerts, so you hear warnings from the National Weather Service as a storm changes.

For snow plow crews

During a long storm, plow operators are spread across neighborhoods and lots, often through the night. A radio in each truck lets the crew lead move trucks to where the snow is worst, call for salt, report a breakdown or a downed line, and check on each other without fumbling with a phone in gloves. The MXT295's wireless Bluetooth mic lets an operator step out of the cab and keep talking.

For families

When an ice storm takes down power and phones are struggling, a GMRS radio lets family members check in between the house, a relative's place nearby, or a car on the road. One GMRS license covers your immediate family, so everyone can use it.

How far it reaches

As our guide explains, the FCC says GMRS users can expect one to twenty-five miles, depending on the type of station, terrain and whether a repeater is used. Radio to radio with no repeater, plan on a few miles; buildings, trees and hills cut that down. A repeater on a tower or hill extends coverage.

License rules, in plain English

• An FCC GMRS license is required to transmit on the MXT295.
• It costs $35 and is good for 10 years.
• There is no test.
• You must be 18 or older.
• It covers your immediate family.
• Small FRS radios at 2 watts or less do not need a license, but they have less power and cannot use repeaters.

Start at the FCC GMRS page. Apply now, before the radio arrives and before the first storm.

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Your winter storm kit

In the vehicle:

• GMRS radio, licensed and tested, with the crew or family channel set
• Ice scraper, small shovel and a bag of sand or ice melt for traction
• Warm blanket, hat, gloves and boots
• Flashlight with spare batteries, and a phone charger
• Water and snacks
• A full gas tank before a storm

At home:

• Flashlights or lanterns and spare batteries
• Water and food that does not need cooking
• Battery-powered or battery-backup carbon monoxide alarms
• A plan for where family members meet and which radio channel to use
• Ice melt and a good shovel by the door (see our Ice Fighter shop)

Good radio habits during a storm

Agree on a check-in time, like the top of every hour, so nobody has to wonder. Keep messages short, listen before you talk, and identify with your call sign as the FCC requires. Remember the emergency rule from our guide: a licensee may let anyone use the radio when it is needed to send an emergency message. And if someone is in danger, call 911 first if you can get through.

Quick setup checklist

• Apply for the GMRS license.
• Mount the radio and an external antenna, high and centered on the vehicle.
• Pick a channel and privacy code for your crew or family and write it down.
• Test the radios before the first storm, including the weather alert feature.
• Keep the kit in the vehicle all winter.