HomeMy Public PortalAboutWatertown Snow and Ice Information (PDF)Watertown Snow & Ice
Introduction
The Town of Watertown has been effective in its efforts to deal with
unpredictable snowfall. Snowstorms above a certain magnitude that hit the
middle of a weekday, while commuters are at work and must return home, will
always cause disruption. However, the town's Snow and Ice Plan allows the
town to effectively deal with most situations. The rate and accumulation of
snowfall, moisture, wind velocity, time of day or night, day or days of the week,
storm duration and intervals between storms interact to make each storm
unique.
The effectiveness of a snow and ice program can have a significant impact on a
Town during the winter season. Schools which are forced to close due to road
conditions cause hardships on working parents who must find alternative care.
Business and industry suffer when products cannot be shipped or when
deliveries aren't made. Recent studies have shown that fuel costs increase
significantly if cars must travel through accumulated snow on the pavement.
The variety of conditions that can occur during the snow and ice season in the
Town makes advance preparation more difficult.
Frequency of accidents, injuries and deaths will increase without the benefit of
a comprehensive snow program. Elderly people who are unable to get out to
grocery stores because of unplowed streets and sidewalks suffer undue
hardships.
An effective snow and ice plan will always outpace the economic and safety
hardships caused by ineffective snow removal operations. The intent of this
plan is to reduce the threat to public safety from a snow and ice emergency.
Prioritizing activities to achieve the most effective responses possible to a wide
variety of conditions is the goal for the Department of Public Works.
The procedures presented in this plan serve to outline the manner in which the
Department of Public Works directs town crews and contractors in solving the
problem of snow and ice control during ordinary and emergency situations.
The Benefits of Winter Maintenance
• Lower accident rates through safer roads
• Lower associated insurance and liability claims
• Generate time savings from faster (and safer) travel
• Reduce productivity losses due to unavailability of
material input to production
• Reduce productivity losses due to late days and
absenteeism by employees
• Ensure that emergency and security services can operate efficiently;
and
• Ensure mobility for people to engage in social activities
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DPW Sidewalk Plow
How much SNOW does Watertown Receive on an
Annual Basis?
➢ Watertown's normal snow fall is 42 inches
➢ In 2010/2011 Watertown received 100" of snow
➢ Public Works responded to 10 snow/ice events
➢ In 1996 Watertown received 111 inches of snow
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Department of Public Works — Emergency Operation Center
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Lowering Accident Rates thru De-icing
Information contained in the next two pages are derived from the Salt
Institute.
Salt Saves Lives
• Who can place a value on the loss of a human life or on the
excruciating pain and suffering that result from auto accidents or
the anxiety of driving on poorly maintained roads?
On the positive side, the many consequences in terms of human
misery which are avoided when effective deicing occurs are truly
incalculable.
• 88.3% of all injury accidents during winter storms can be avoided by
deicing roadways.
Storm Preparation
Prior to a storm, the Superintendant /Supervisor will monitor a number of local
weather stations as well as National Weather Service and the Town's own
weather service. Normally, storm activity is followed from afar. The staff will
monitor temperature ranges and snow fall rates. As the storm progresses into
Massachusetts the staff will also monitor storm activity of other communities
and state agencies through radio traffic. The staff will also retrieve road surface
temperatures in Watertown in an effort to estimate how fast we will experience
snow bonding to the roadway.
Questions and Complaints Most Often
Received During the Winter Season
• Why is snow pushed into my driveway by sidewalk and street
plows?
• Answer:
It's really unavoidable. We know of no other Town in New England
which removes snow from resident's driveways. It would cost
literally hundreds of thousands of dollars to handle such a service.
Our crews will move snow back to the curb as soon after the storm
as possible.
• Can 1 as a resident, push snow from my property onto the sidewalk
from street?
• Answer:
No. Dumping of snow is a very dangerous act that can cause
skidding accidents and may bring you significant liability if an
accident is caused by this dumping of snow.
• Do some streets get more of a priority during a snowstorm?
• Answer:
Yes, Major roadways in our snow plan that receive a higher volume
of traffic receive higher service as outlined in our snow plan.
• Can I park my car on the street during winter months?
• Answer:
• Under Town ordinance, no car is allowed to be parked on a Town
street from 1:00 a.m. to 6 a.m. from December 1st. to April 1st. The
Town Manager also has the power to declare an emergency parking
ban as deemed necessary to clear the streets at other times of the
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day or year. During the times of a parking ban or an emergency
declared by the Town Manager, cars remaining on the street will be
ticketed and towed at the owner's expense.
• What should I do if 1 think a snowplow is traveling too fast for
safety?
• Answer:
Our plows are directed to plow between 10 and 20 m.p.h. and
sometimes slower; the only exception is on some of the major
roadways. If you believe speeds are in excess of safe conditions,
please contact us giving us the location, description of vehicle and
time. We will investigate accordingly.
• What should I do if a snowplow damages my property?
• Answer:
Please send a letter to the Town Clerk's Office at 149 Main Street.
Provide the following information: description of vehicle, location
and estimated time of accident. Enclose any pictures or estimates.
• Does the Town Manager get his street plowed first?
• Answer:
No.
• Does the Department of Public Works take constructive criticism
and input from citizens?
• Answer:
We certainly do, we encourage it. If a group of citizens would like to
meet with us or have suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact
US.
• Why do snowplows block my driveway with snow when they
clear the road?
• Answer:
We are so sorry for this inconvenience. While plow crews try
to minimize the amount of snow that gets plowed into
driveways during the storm, it is the responsibility of the
property owner to clear their driveway opening. Also, as long
as there is snow in the street, the plow driver will continue to
plow the street. Some of this additional snow will end up at
the driveway opening. To avoid double work try to shovel
snow from your driveway after the plow has been by, and
shovel the snow to the right side of your driveway as you face
the road instead of to the left.
• Why doesn't Watertown use more sand?
• Answer:
Our experience, and the body of research on the use of sand,
indicates the benefits of abrasives (sand) applied to roadways
are very minimal. Abrasives are easily displaced from the
roadway by traffic and they have no ice melting properties.
There are also negative environmental consequences such as
air pollution and siltation of waterways. When you consider
the cost of the material from purchase, storage and dispersal;
through removal, clean up and disposal; it is not a cost
effective material for snow and ice operations.
• What is the importance of pavement and subsurface
temperatures? Why not rely on just air temperature?
• Answer:
The ability of deicing agent to melt snow and ice depends on
the temperature of the roadway and not the air temperature.
During the fall the pavement is often kept warmer than the
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surrounding air because of the warm soil. During the spring
the reverse may be true. The pavement temperatures can be
colder than the air because the soil is still frozen from the low
winter temperatures. The sun also has a strong influence on
the pavement temperatures. It can help heat the pavement
and speed the melting process. Air and pavement
temperatures can often differ by as much as 20 degrees
Fahrenheit.
• I've sometimes seen snowplows driving along during a storm
with their plows in a raised position. Why are they not
plowing?
• Answer:
There are a couple of reasons plows aren't always pushing
snow. Plows may be in operation only to spread materials, or
may be out of materials to spread and headed back to the
Public Works yard for a refill. Another possibility is that the
driver does not have the responsibility for the road he is
currently on — and he's heading elsewhere.
Why would material be spread on a bare highway after a
snowstorm is over?
• Answer:
The projected roadway temperatures have a lot to do with
the final treatment of a road. After plowing operations have
finished and a roadway is left in a "black and wet" condition,
there is the possibility of the water on the road re -freezing.
This post -storm treatment of roads is typically needed at
night — since temperature drops can be more dramatic than
when the sun is shining.
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• Why Salt and How Much?
• Answer:
Salt is effective for melting snow and ice because the
chemical properties of the salt lower the freezing point of
water. However, the colder it gets, the more salt is required
to melt snow and ice. This is because salt begins to lose its
effectiveness as temperatures drop below 25 degrees
Fahrenheit. The loss becomes increasingly more substantial
below 20 degrees F. At 30 degrees F one pound of salt will
melt 46.3 pounds of ice; at 0 degrees F one pound of salt will
melt only 3.7 pounds of ice.
Calcium chloride is mixed with salt in colder temperatures to
increase the salt's melting ability. (See Calcium Chloride
below.) Direct sunlight and traffic also help salt work better.
Heavily traveled roads may often become slushier and clear
sooner than lesser traveled roads in rural areas.
• Where should 1 call if 1 have a question or complaint?
• Answer:
We would ask that all calls be made Monday through Friday,
between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 617-972-6420.
However, if you feel there is an emergency or an issue that can't
wait, please call this number at your convenience. If you wish to
write a letter, send it to:
Department of Public Works
124 Orchard Street
Watertown, MA 02472
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Winter Weather Glossary
Have you ever wondered what makes a storm a blizzard?
Below you will find definitions of weather related terms.
Definitions provided by the National Weather Service.
Blizzard — A blizzard means that the following conditions are
expected to prevail for a period of 3 hours or longer: Sustained
wind or frequent gusts to 35 miles an hour or greater and
considerable falling and/or blowing snow (i.e., reducing the
visibility frequently to less than a quarter mile).
Heavy Snow — This generally means.... Snowfall accumulating to 4"
or more in depth in 12 hours or less or snowfall accumulating to 6"
or more in depth in 24 hours or less. In forecasts, snowfall amounts
are expressed as a range of values, i.e., "8 to 12 inches." However,
in heavy snow situations where there is considerable uncertainty
concerning the range of values, more appropriate phrases are used,
such as "....up to 12 inches...." or alternatively "....8 inches or
more....
Ice Storm — An ice storm is used to describe occasions when
damaging accumulations of ice are expected during freezing rain
situations. Significant accumulations of ice pull down trees and
utility lines resulting in loss of power and communication. These
accumulations of ice make walking and driving extremely
dangerous. Accumulations are called significant when they amount
to a quarter inch or more.
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Nor / `easter — A strong low pressure system that affects the Mid
Atlantic and New England States. It can form over land or over the
coastal waters. These winter weather events are notorious for
producing heavy snow, rain, and tremendous waves that crash onto
Atlantic beaches, often causing beach erosion and structural
damage. Wind gusts associated with these storms can exceed
hurricane force in intensity. A nor`easter gets its name from the
continuously strong northeasterly winds blowing in from the ocean
ahead of the storm and over the coastal areas.
Wind Advisory — Sustained winds 25 to 39 mph and/or gusts to 57
mph. Issuance is normally site specific.
Wind Chill —_Increased wind speeds accelerate heat loss from
exposed skin and the wind chill is a measure of this effect. No
specific rules exist for determining when wind chill becomes
dangerous. As a general rule the threshold for potentially
dangerous wind chill conditions is about — 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Winter Storm Warning — This announcement is issued by the
National Weather Service when a winter storm is producing or is
forecast to produce heavy snow or significant ice accumulations.
The criteria for this warning can vary from place to place.
Winter Storm Watch — This product is issued by the National
Weather Service when there is a potential for heavy snow or
significant ice accumulations, usually at least 24 to36 hours in
advance.
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