Dayton, Ohio – As a powerful winter storm approaches, the City of Dayton is mobilizing full snow operations in anticipation of hazardous travel conditions and frigid temperatures that could linger from Saturday through Tuesday. Current forecasts predict significant snowfall between 8 to 12 inches, along with plunging temperatures that may reach the single digits, prompting citywide alerts and preparations.
The city’s Public Works Department will begin a full snow operations deployment at 4 p.m. on Saturday, with 44 primary snowplow drivers working in rotating shifts to ensure coverage through Tuesday and beyond, depending on how long conditions persist. While this timeline may be adjusted as forecasts evolve, officials are urging residents to prepare for prolonged snow-packed roads.
“This will be a challenging storm due to both the amount of snow and the extreme cold,” said Tom Ritchie, Director of Public Works. “Our crews will be working around the clock to keep priority routes open, but we are asking residents to be patient, stay off the roads when possible, and give our plow operators the space they need to do their jobs safely.”
Plowing Becomes the Primary Tool as Salt Becomes Ineffective
Due to the severity of the cold, road salt is expected to have little impact during the storm. Instead, crews will rely mainly on plowing to keep roads as clear as possible. Ritchie emphasized that drivers should expect snow-packed surfaces and limited pavement visibility until the weather improves, likely no sooner than Monday or Tuesday.
Plow crews will focus first on Priority 1 and 2 roads, which include Dayton’s major and moderate-capacity roadways. Only after these key routes are cleared will attention shift to residential streets—and that likely won’t happen until Monday. In the Central Business District, the snow will be pushed to the center of downtown streets and removed beginning Monday morning due to the expected buildup.
Residents Urged to Stay Home and Clear Streets
To help plows operate effectively and safely, Dayton officials are urging residents to remove vehicles from the streets wherever possible. Parked cars can severely limit the ability of snowplows to clear curb-to-curb, and in narrow areas, may make plowing nearly impossible.
Residents are also being strongly advised to stay home unless travel is absolutely necessary. Those who must be on the road are reminded to stay well behind snowplows, allowing crews space to work and keeping to areas that have already been cleared.
As the storm looms, city officials stress patience and caution, promising that crews will remain on duty as long as needed to keep essential routes open and ensure the safety of all Dayton residents.
