Snow Plowing Update: January 17, 2026
Bottom Line
Initial citywide plowing is wrapping up as scheduled. Snow continues today. Streets Division plows remain on the roads. Be prepared for snow-covered and slippery roads on your journeys as the response continues throughout the day.
Citywide Plowing Update
The citywide plowing operation of every residential began at midnight and it progressed as expected.
All streets should receive their initial curb-to-curb plowing by around 12pm today, January 17, 2026.
As of the publication of this update (around 9:30am on January 17), the work is still ongoing.
More Snow Today; Salt Route Response Will Continue
As the snow continues to fall today, Streets Division crews will continue with the salt route response.
Plows will be on the salt routes today throughout the afternoon and into the evening hours.
While air temperatures are cold, pavement temperatures are above the threshold for salt to be effective at our application rate.
As plows work on the salt routes through the afternoon, they will be plowing and salting as needed.
What to Expect on the Roads
Snowy and slippery roads will be the norm today as snow lingers and the snowplow response continues.
Main thoroughfares will have snow on them as well through much of day as the snow continues to fall and crews work to keep up. The cold temperatures mean salt, while effective, will be slow. Some main throughfares will have tracks visible through the snow, others may perhaps be more snow-covered. Be ready for slow-going and give yourself extra time to get to where you need to be.
The low traffic, low speed residential will be snow-covered as well, which is normal.
Remain alert. Stay patient. Drive slowly. Anticipate your stops and turns so you do not slide. Don’t crowd the plows. And, as always, make good choices.
Why does my street still have snow on it if it was plowed?
The reason why residential areas have snow on them, and the main throughfares typically do not, has to do with salt.
Plows do not dig down to the road surface like your snow shovel when you clear the sidewalk. Snowplows push the snow over the road surface and to the sides. This means a hardpacked layer of snow will always be left behind on top of the road. Plus, every road is slightly curved to help with drainage and the heavy-duty metal plows are flat, so there isn’t a perfect seal between the plows and the road.
Salt is the only tool that removes snow down to bare pavement. That’s why the main thoroughfares tend to be bare pavement sometime after snow events – they’re salted. Residential areas are not.
Everyone is very well aware of the harm caused by salt. One of the ways we try to mitigate that harm is by using it only when and where it’s absolutely necessary. That’s why salt is only routinely used on the main thoroughfares.
After citywide plowing operations, residential areas are sanded to help with traction in the areas that need it (hills, curves, intersections, etc.).
If you have concerns about slippery areas, we recommend using the Snow & Ice Problems report-a-problem form. Report-a-Problems generate an email to operations supervisors so concerns can be addressed.
Monitoring Conditions
Streets Division staff will continue to monitor the roads and the weather. Operations will adjust as needed. Future updates will be provided.
