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Snow Removal

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Living in Wenatchee, we all know how unpredictable our winter weather can be. We have experienced winters with no snow accumulation, and winters with over four feet of measurable snow.

With a population of 35,000 and nearly 100 miles of streets, the Street Department provides snow and ice control services to City residents.

Normal Snow Conditions


Our fleet of snow-fighting equipment is readied as soon as snow is forecast. Six dump trucks, including five trucks with sanders and snow plows and one with a 1000-gallon de-icer tank and snow plow, join four graders and a crew of trained equipment operators to ensure major City streets remain passable. Plows remove snow from the travel lane when snow depth and current and predicted temperatures indicate the need to plow. The de-icer is a pre-storm treatment used primarily on identified top-priority streets.

Snow Plow

The City's present snow control policy establishes the degree of snow control for the streets using the following prioritization:

First Priority: This includes all major arterial streets considered to be the minimum network which must remain open to provide a transportation system connecting hospitals, fire stations, police stations, schools and emergency medical services.

Second Priority: Minor arterial and collector streets combine for the second priority, serving public transportation and selected hot-spots, such as steep hills and high-volume intersections.

Third Priority: All remaining streets, such as residential and local streets.

Except for very unusual conditions, all priority one, two and three streets will remain open and maintained. When this is not possible, crews will direct efforts first to priority one streets, then to priority two, and finally to priority three. The snow routes have been developed to ensure that regardless of which priorities are dropped, the remaining portions are still one connected, continuous system.

Emergency Snow Conditions


When winter weather conditions are severe, the City may declare a snow emergency. Factors such as wind, temperature, and current and projected snow accumulations can influence this decision. Newspapers, local radio and television stations are immediately informed in an effort to alert the public. All parked, stalled or abandoned vehicles may be towed from designated emergency snow routes at the owner's expense. Vehicles parked along streets posted with "no parking" signage may be towed at the owner's expense without a declared snow emergency. To help our operators perform their plowing duties in a safe and efficient manner, we ask that residents park elsewhere when snow begins to accumulate.

Equipment operators may work 12-hours or more per shift, and appreciate courteous and friendly drivers and pedestrians.

Citizen Responsibilities

Snow can be beautiful, but it also can create hazards. When residents fail to clear their sidewalks, the result can be a dangerous ice patch. We need your help to protect pedestrians from possible injury.

Please remember:

  • Residents are responsible to maintain their sidewalks and driveways adjacent to their property.
  • Please pile the snow in your yard, not in the street.
  • If your sidewalk is icy, you may correct the hazard by applying a heavy coat of sand. 
  • Sidewalks that continue to not be cleared are subject to a citation.
  • Residents are responsible to remove snow from sidewalks no later than 24 hours after the first snowfall.

For more information:

Shoveling Snow Example