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Winter Storm Information
| 2007/2008 Snow and Ice Brochure
SDOT's annual snow and ice brochure is now available. The brochure has a large map of Seattle's snow and ice routes, lists important telephone numbers and web sites to use during winter storms, and offers preparedness tips. Translated printed versions in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Tagalog, Somalian, Amharic, and Oromo are available now, call 684-ROAD or email carbina.resendez@seattle.gov if you would like to receive a copy.
The brochures will be free at Seattle Public Library branches and Neighborhood Service Centers. Businesses and schools that would like multiple copies may call 684-7623 (684-ROAD) and leave the name of a contact person, mailing address, telephone number and quanitity of brochures requested, and brochures will be mailed or delivered as long as the supply lasts. |
Seattle’s Unique Conditions
- Seattle does not get a ‘predictable’ annual snowfall. Since 1984, annual snowfall at the Seattle Tacoma Airport weather station has ranged from trace amount to 20 inches in a 24-hour period.
- Seattle has more hills than most cities, increasing motorists’ difficulties and requiring special attention from the City.
- Seattle has a number of convergence zones, which result in widely varying weather conditions throughout the City. It is not uncommon to have a significant amount of snow accumulation in one part of the City while only a few miles away there is no snow at all.
Pre-Season Preparation
- Preparation for the snow & ice season begins in summer.
- Snow & Ice equipment is inspected and tested in the late summer, early fall.
- Training for Truck Drivers and Equipment Operators is held every fall.
- The Snow & Ice Response Plan is reviewed and updated in the fall for distribution in late October.
Sand and Plowing Routes
- A network of major arterial streets have been selected as first priorities for sand and plowing. The selection is based on the need to maintain: transit service, school bus service, access to the regional transportation system, access along high-volume arterial streets, access close to all major areas of the City, and access to emergency facilities such as fire stations, police stations and hospitals.
- Sanding and plowing:
- Preparation for the A.M. peak period - inbound lanes receive priority treatment
- Preparation for the P.M. peak period - outbound lanes receive priority treatment
- A sanding truck with a plow is allocated solely to the West Seattle High Rise Bridge on a full-time basis, to be used as necessary. An additional truck is allocated to the Aurora Bridge and the Alaskan Way Viaduct to be used as needed.
- Crews use snowplows when snow begins to accumulate on the street surface.
Anti-Icing & De-icing
- Street Maintenance may perform anti-icing on selected elevated structures if there is a forecast of roadway frost or freezing temperatures that may cause road icing problems. Street Maintenance will be using GeoMelt C again this season for liquid anti-icing. It is a liquid surface treatment that is applied before roadways freeze. This product will be used primarily on the West Seattle Highrise, the Alaskan Way Viaduct, and other elevated roadways. SDOT will continue to use other granular products both alone and mixed with sand for anti-icing and de-icing.
- Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has two small sander trucks with hand held temperature sensors; one is stationed in the north end and one in the south end of the City.
- These trucks patrol known trouble spots when freezing temperatures are predicted - primarily bridges and viaducts which often reach freezing temperatures before other roadway surfaces. When problem locations are identified sand and or chemical deicers are applied.
Staffing and Equipment
- During a snow & Ice event SDOT crews switch to 12-hour shifts to ensure 24-hour coverage. Street Maintenance has two general Street Maintenance Managers who report to the Street Maintenance Director.
- There are approximately 35 Truck Drivers and 22 Equipment Operators to staff equipment and maintain the stockpiles in the yards.
- A total of 27 trucks are fitted with snowplows and sand spreaders.
- A total of 3 trucks and 1 grader are fitted with plows.
- A total of 1 truck is outfitted as an anti-icing truck.
- These trucks are used every day for activities such as filing potholes, flushing streets, and carrying materials to and from the work site for paving.
Equipment on Site
- Trucks Fitted with Snowplows and Sanders: 24
- Trucks fitted with Snow Plows: 4
- Graders that can be used as snowplows in tandem with a sand spreader: 1
- Liquid De-icer truck: 1
- Front-end Loaders: 5
- Various Trucks for support Activities: 44
- Mechanical Street Sweepers for sand clean-up: 8
Materials
The Street Maintenance Division has snow & ice response materials stored at four locations throughout the city, Haller Lake, Charles Street, West Seattle and 6th and Harrison.
Post Storm Clean-up
- After each storm the streets on the snow & ice routes are mechanically swept.
- SDOT performs street sweeping as soon as possible after the end of a storm event to try to minimize the amount of sand entering the drainage system.
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