SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane's first real snowfall is expected to hit during the early hours Wednesday, likely bringing one to three inches to the morning commute.
Kirstin Davis with the City's public works department says the streets crews have been ready to go into winter weather mode, on standby for a week.
Davis says staff are working 20 hours a day monitoring forecasts and conditions, with drivers ready to give up leaf rakes for snow plows.
Though with Wednesday's forecast also calling for some rain and above-freezing temperatures, Davis doesn't expect the snow to last long enough to warrant sending out those plows just yet.
"We have to get a certain amount to really start moving anything," she said.
Accumulation is the name of this game, Davis says, to prompt crews to start on snow removal.
"It's a wait and see, but having all the tools with us," Davis said. "Our goal is to be flexible and responsive. That's why we have a lot of those materials in four different places throughout the city, so we can react faster."
The city has four satellite locations where supplies and equipment are stored for a more efficient city-wide response.
"Really helpful when we can access them quickly. We don't [have] those drivers driving 10 miles each way to get those materials," Davis said.
The city is well-stocked on sand and salt, Davis added, which they start accumulating in the summer. They'll add to that pile as needed throughout winter.
Snow season operations run through March 15.