Snow crews are preparing for tonight’s and Tuesday’s expected snowfall, according to a report to the Unified Government’s Public Works and Safety Committee tonight.
The temperature was 41 degrees outside at 6:30 p.m. Monday, but snow is still expected to fall tonight and Tuesday in Wyandotte County, according to the National Weather Service. The area is under a winter weather advisory from 8 p.m. tonight until 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Jeff Fisher, UG director of public works, said at tonight’s meeting that a trace to one inch of snow would be considered a minor event usually. As the first snowfall of the year, it will probably seem bigger than that amount seems in the middle of the year.
Up to two inches of snow, or one to three inches, is predicted tonight in the region, according to the weather service.
Fisher said one to three inches is considered the moderate phase of snow accumulation, with a heavy snowfall classified as three to six inches of snow.
At each stage, public works takes certain steps. There is usually more plowing on heavy snow accumulations. A snow emergency can be declared at any level, most likely at six inches or more, he said.
Fisher said when there is a snow emergency declared, there will be no parking on emergency snow routes. Vehicles have to have radial tires or snow chains.
Salt is not as effective when temperatures drop below 15 degrees, so as the temperature drops, less salt will be put down on the roads. One pound of salt will melt 46 pounds of ice, but the same amount only melts 3.7 pounds of ice as temperatures drop to zero. The salt at 15 degrees is not effective, according to public works staff.
Then, sand is put down for traction. The public works department is trying to be as efficient with dollars as possible, and not waste the salt when it won’t work, he added.
“Hot routes,” like Leavenworth Road and emergency facilities such as hospitals, fire stations and police stations, and “secondary routes,” streets serving schools and major roads, are plowed first, 12 hours after snow stops falling.
There is a goal to clear “neighborhood routes,” including all local routes, residential streets and cul-de-sacs, within 24 to 48 hours after the snow stops.
Ways residents can help during a snowstorm:
- Avoid driving during a snowstorm.
- Avoid parking on the street, especially on streets in town.
- Secure your mailbox. Snow weight coming off plows is heavier.
- When you shovel your driveway, push snow to the right side of the driveway to prevent the snowplow from covering your driveway with snow.
- Don’t let kids (or don’t yourself) play in large snow piles or sled in the streets.
Public works staff said that some trucks are driving from one place to another to remove snow, such as driving out to Piper or Turner, and will not necessarily be on a plowing schedule yet. Not every truck is plowing.
Also, snow by itself can push over a mailbox because of its heavy weight. It’s not just plows that could knock them over. The mailboxes should be secured.
Lake plowing and sledding
In answer to a question from Commissioner Melissa Bynum, public works staff said there is a dedicated snowplow truck for the Wyandotte County Lake and Wyandotte County Park to keep the rental halls open and Redbud Hill open for sledding. Unless the sheriff demands closing it, public works will keep the roads open.
To see more of this presentation, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z35g3DFj6ZQ.
Or go to https://www.wycokck.org/Engage-With-Us/News-articles/Snow-Operations-Update-November-14-2022.