The short answer
A garage door freezes shut when melted snow, ice, or condensation under the bottom weatherstrip refreezes during a hard Minnesota cold snap, gluing the seal to the concrete slab until it's warmed or gently freed.
Why It Happens in Minnesota
A brief warm spell followed by a sudden hard freeze lets slush and meltwater sit under the bottom seal before it refreezes solid overnight.
Any water left sitting under the bottom seal can freeze it to the slab the same way once the temperature drops, even without fresh snow outside.
How to Free It Safely
Repeatedly triggering the opener isn't the answer here. Forcing the door against the ice can rip the bottom weatherseal, and the springs and cables that lift the door are already under high tension.
Do not force the opener or pry the door loose. Keep electrical appliances away from meltwater. Follow the door manufacturer’s thawing guidance, keep the area dry to prevent refreezing, and request service if the seal cannot be released safely.
A door that won't come free after that, or that reveals a bent track or a loose-looking cable once the ice is gone, calls for a technician rather than a pry bar near the bottom corners, where the cable anchors sit.
Reducing It Going Forward
Checking the bottom seal before the season's first hard freeze is worth the few minutes it takes.
- Sweep or squeegee melted ice off the slab in front of the door before nightfall rather than letting it sit and refreeze
- Swap a bottom seal that's gone flat or split
- Ask about a threshold seal for a garage where wind regularly drives snow up against the door
Published by Minnesota Garage Pros, a regional brand of USA Garage Pros · Updated 2026-10-19