2/1: Snowplowing Update

Streets Division plows will be ready to hit the roads late tonight as snow is expected to arrive sometime close to midnight. Expect slippery conditions if traveling during the overnight hours through early Sunday morning.

When plows are dispatched in response to the snow, crews will be focusing on the salt routes. These are the 782 miles of traffic lanes that make up the main thoroughfares through the city.  Crews will be plowing the snow and applying salt as necessary.

The storm is expected to produce somewhere around a half inch of snow, maybe a little bit more. While this may not be much snow for Wisconsin, it is absolutely enough to make the roads slippery so you must make good choices if you choose to be out in the weather.

Pavement and air temperatures will be teetering around the freezing point.  We may have a situation where snow sticks at first, and then begins to melt while more snow falls.  This combination of fresh snow falling onto melting snow can make for slick roadways.

Also, as the storm continues into daybreak Sunday, temperatures are expected to warm up and the snow may switch to rain.  This means we could see melting snow on the roads mixed with falling rain.  As a result, road conditions could get slipperier with rainwater and snow all churned together.    

So, if you plan on being out late tonight through early Sunday, be prepared for snowy, wet, and slippery roads. Remain alert and attentive.  Give yourself extra travel time so you can get do your destinations safely.

Streets Division staff will be monitoring the roads and the weather.  Operations will adjust as conditions require.