About Snow and Ice Events
Snow and ice events can create dangerous travel conditions and limits access to homes, schools, and emergency services. During winter weather, City staff focus on keeping the community safe by prioritizing key roads used by the most drivers and emergency responders. Crews follow a planned response approach to use limited staff and equipment efficiently and restore safe travel conditions as quickly as possible.
Preparing for Winter Weather
Crews apply anti-icing fluid in known problem areas and places where moisture collects. The City uses its Anti-icing Routes Map to guide where and when treatments are applied. Hot spots are treated when freezing temperatures are expected, even without precipitation, and additional routes are treated when snow or very cold temperatures are forecast. Drivers should still use caution, as treated roads may remain icy.
Responding to Winter Storms
Newcastle uses its Snow & Ice Priority Routes Map to decide which roads are plowed first. Streets are ranked from Priority 1 to Priority 5, with Priority 1 streets serving as major routes for traffic and emergency access. Neighborhood streets, Priority 2 through Priority 4, are cleared as resources allow, and Priority 5 streets are plowed only after all higher-priority roads are clear.
The City operates a fleet of three trucks, including one full-size snowplow and two large trucks, providing 24-hour coverage with two 12-hour shifts and three trained operators per shift. All drivers have APWA-certified operator training to safely and efficiently respond to winter storms.