(Washington, DC)  District snow crews are prepared for the second wave of precipitation that is beginning to fall over the Washington area.  A mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain is expected overnight and into the morning rush hour.  Total ice accumulation of 0.1" or more is possible.  Residents and motorists are urged to use extreme caution on the roads, sidewalks and other surfaces as below freezing temperatures will prevail.  Property owners are asked to spread abrasives, such as salt or non-clumping kitty litter, on the sidewalks around their property to help pedestrians keep their footing.

The District’s Snow Team (District Department of Transportation and Department of Public Works) mobilized early Tuesday morning, deploying 205 heavy and light plows to salt all primary roadways and residential streets.   Crews will continue to work through the night and into the morning treating the roads and plowing if necessary.  

The Snow Team treats 69 primary and secondary routes, 82 residential routes and 75 miles of major roadways and Interstate Highways (part of the National Highway System).

When fully deployed, the team’s resources include nearly 300 pieces of equipment, capacity filled snow domes and over 100 closed circuit television (CCTV) traffic cameras to be used to track progressive treatment and to monitor the surface conditions of the roadway.

In addition to the fleet of heavy and light plows, loaders and spray trucks, the District closely monitors National Weather Service forecasts, and uses an automatic vehicle location system, geo-spatial information system (GIS) and road weather information systems (RWIS). Each of these help the team determine anticipated roadway conditions, areas in need of snow and/or ice removal and current roadway temperatures.