Department of Public Services (DPS) crews are preparing to respond to the rain, snow, and ice forecasted for the Cincinnati area Thursday night.  Per the National Weather Service, rain is expected to turn to snow after 11 p.m. with accumulations of 2-4 inches possible. Temperatures are expected to drop below 0 degrees Fahrenheit overnight Thursday into Friday with wind chills as low as -28 degrees Fahrenheit possible. There is a potential for a “flash freeze” as the temperatures plummet causing icy conditions.

Crews will begin reporting at 7 p.m. Thursday evening with approximately 58 drivers during B-shift and 57 drivers during A-shift. With significant rain in the forecast before the overnight precipitation freeze, crews will not be able to effectively pretreat local roadways. Crews will work 12-hour shifts throughout the winter event to monitor street conditions and work to prevent refreezing on major and vulnerable roadways.

If you are able to, stay home – for the safety of our essential workers and our emergency responders.  If you must travel, motorists are reminded to exercise caution while on the road during winter weather events. Be aware of the potential for late-night and early-morning re-freezing on treated streets in isolated areas due to frigid temperatures.

Jarrod Bolden, Superintendent of Traffic and Road Operations Division will be available for interviews Thursday (today) at 10 a.m. at the Valley View salt dome, 3300 Colerain Avenue, 45225.

 

Quick Facts:

The City of Cincinnati has the following resources on hand:

• 27,000 tons of salt
• 54,500 gallons of calcium chloride
• 21,500 gallons of beet juice
• 63,000 gallons of brine

The City of Cincinnati will use social media to post operational updates related to this winter weather event. Residents are able to track real-time winter operations data via the City of Cincinnati’s CincyInsights Snow Plow Tracker.  The interactive website shows where snow vehicles have already been, when a vehicle was on a particular street, and the distance covered by snow vehicles since the start of the winter weather event.

Residents may report urgent matters and customer service requests to the City by calling 311,  www.311Cincy.com, or by utilizing the 311Cincy mobile app.

 

Helpful Reminders to Drivers:

• Give Crews Space to Work. Please provide ample space between vehicles and crews, allowing them to do its job.
• Utilize Off-Street Parking. Parked vehicles along roadways are a major deterrent for crews when clearing snow and ice.
• Keep an Emergency Kit Ready. Pack an emergency vehicle kit, including a blanket, socks, cell phone, batteries, flashlights, and snacks while driving in winter conditions. It’s always better to be overly prepared while traveling in uncertain weather.
• Extend Caution While Traveling. Even at temperatures above freezing, if weather conditions are wet, you might encounter ice on exposed roadways like bridges, underpasses, or hills. Allow more room to brake when traveling during the winter season.
• Slow Down!

For more information on Cincinnati’s Winter Operations, please visit www.cincinnati-oh.gov/winter and follow DPS on Twitter and Facebook.