(WASHINGTON, DC) – In anticipation of the District’s third snow event of the winter season, Mayor Muriel Bowser deployed the District Snow Team Thursday evening to begin spreading a “hot mix,” solution of brine and beet juice along roadways. This operation, which lowers the temperature at which ice bonds to streets, will continue through Saturday evening.

For Sunday, the forecast is for an early afternoon wintry mix that may accumulate to 1-3 inches of snow before transitioning to rain Sunday evening. There might be the possibility of a brief dusting of snow on Monday morning. District snowplows will begin getting into position to service the roads beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday. Based on the current forecast, the District Snow Team expects to clear at least 85 percent of major roadways within 6 hours after the snowfall ends and at least 85 percent of residential streets within 12 hours.

Air and pavement temperatures are expected to be in the upper 20’s to low 30’s with possible pavement temperatures near or above 32 at the storm’s onset. Temperatures may reach the low 40’s on Monday. The District’s Hypothermia Alert will be turned on at 7:00 p.m. Residents are encouraged to call 311 or (202) 399-7093 if they see someone in need of shelter.

Motorists are asked to stay off the roads to allow plows room to treat streets if they don’t have to travel or to slow down and drive cautiously if they must be on the road.

The District Snow Team urges residents and businesses to use this opportunity to make sure they are prepared for winter weather. Residents and commercial property owners should apply pet-friendly abrasives, deicer, or non-clumping kitty litter to the sidewalks around their properties before snowfall to reduce the possibility of icing and to prevent slips and falls. The Snow Team uses pet-friendly deicer on District pedestrian bridges.

Residential and commercial property owners are required to clear snow and ice from their sidewalks within 24 hours following the end of a snow event. Through the Sidewalk Shoveling Exemption Program, qualified residents will be exempt from this requirement if they own and live in their own homes (single-family or apartment building with no more than three units) and are 65 years old or older and/or living with a disability. Residents may call 311 to apply.

Residents are reminded that in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, trash and recycling collections will be suspended on Monday and will slide one day for the remainder of the week through Saturday. Residents should keep their alleys clear and shoveled to aid in the timely collection. The District Snow Team does not plow alleys. Leaf and holiday tree collections and drop-offs will continue but check for updates in case of unanticipated delays.

The Department of Public Works leads the District Snow Team with support from the District Department of Transportation, Department of General Services, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, Serve DC, and several other agencies.

Residents and commuters are encouraged to register for important weather alerts from the District by signing up for AlertDC at alert.dc.gov. Residents may view Neighbor-2-Neighbor videos here for residents’ snow prep tips. ServeDC also urges residents to volunteer to clear their elderly and disabled neighbors’ sidewalks. Interested residents may register for the DC Volunteer Snow Team here.

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