Don’t get caught in the cold: are you snow ready?

News Release

It may not be here yet but with snow showers forecast for higher elevations in Kelowna tonight, we all know it’s coming—snow is on its way! When that white stuff starts to fly, our snow crews will be ready. 

“We’ve finished switching equipment over for the winter, have more than 20,000 tons of sand on hand for the season and our newest snow blower, Snownado, enthusiastically named by residents last year, is ready to get back to work,” says Roadways Operations Manager Andrew Schwerdtfeger. “As prepared as we are, we want to remind residents that everyone plays an important part in snow clearing and ice control efforts this winter.”

Crews are out as soon as the snow falls. Kelowna’s snow crews work around the clock, seven days a week when the snow flies, plowing, sanding, de-icing and treating roads.

When it comes to snow clearing, first priority goes to high traffic roads like Gordon Drive, then collector roads like Richter Street and others with bus routes, school zones, town centres and emergency vehicle stations. Learn more about road clearing priorities including your road’s priority status at kelowna.ca/snow.

Help make snow season more manageable for everyone by:

• Moving your car off the street when the snow starts. It makes snow clearing easier, faster and more effective.
• Clearing the walkways in and around your property.
• Helping your neighbours, friends or family members who may have difficulty shoveling. Be sure to nominate the Snow Angels who lends you a hand!
• Using the chatbot on kelowna.ca/snow or by calling 250-469-8600 for the latest snow clearing updates, if a temporary parking ban is in effect, when your address will next be serviced and for any of your snow and ice control questions.  
• Knowing if you live on a snow route.

Residents living on a snow route have an important responsibility to help support snow clearing efforts in their neighbourhoods. When a snow event advisory is announced, a temporary on street parking ban goes into effect for all snow route areas, which includes Academy Way, Black Mountain, Clifton/Magic Estates/Wilden, Dilworth Mountain, Kirschner Mountain, McKinley Beach, areas in the South Mission and, new for 2023, Quail Ridge. Vehicles that remain parked on designated snow routes during these temporary parking bans are subject to enforcement, up to and including a $50 fine and towing. 

For more information about snow clearing, snow routes, and the Snow Angels program, please visit kelowna.ca/snow.