Extreme Snow & Cold

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When snowfall is in the forecast, preparation and planning are important in keeping everyone safe and minimizing impacts on you and your family. 

The City monitors road and weather conditions throughout the winter. When snow and icy conditions are forecast, crews and equipment are dispatched to clear roads on a priority basis. We appreciate your patience during snow events, as municipal crews work to keep City streets clear and safe. 

Here’s some important information on the City’s extreme weather response and your responsibilities when the snow flies. 

Prior to the snow falling crews spray a salt brine mixture on to the area road network to prevent ice from building up. Then, as the snow starts to fall the City’s heavy equipment, plows and salting/sanding trucks are deployed throughout the City on to six priority routes. 

Crews remain on these priority routes until the snow has stopped falling and the road surface remains clear, then they moved to secondary routes. 

These six priority routes have been established using the following criteria: 

  • Access for first responders and to emergency service facilities. 
  • Main transit routes. 
  • High volume arterial roads. 
  • Roads and bridges that provide the only access to large neighbourhood centres.

Here is the link to the priority route maps Priority Route Maps.  

The Snow Plow Tracker

The City has developed a ‘Snow Plow Tracker’ map that uses data from the transponders on our snow clearing fleet. The data will be live during a snow event and is updated as the vehicles move throughout the community, so the location may be approximate. As noted, the full fleet is dispatched as the snowfall warrants, and vehicles move to and from the City’s Operations centre to replenish fuel, salt, sand and brine, depending on the conditions and intensity of the weather event.