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The City of St. Thomas clears snow and ice from roads and sidewalks to keep our community safe and moving during the winter.
Our Snow and Ice Control Plan aims to:
Minimum maintenance standards
The Minimum Maintenance Standards (MMS) set out under the Municipal Act determine how quickly we plow, salt and sand each street, based on traffic speed and volume.
View the map to find your street's MMS classification
| MMS classification | Plowing begins | Salting or sanding begins |
|---|---|---|
| MMS 2 | when snow reaches 5 cm, within 6 hours of accumulation | within 4 hours of icy conditions |
| MMS 3 | when snow reaches 8 cm, within 12 hours of accumulation | within 8 hours of icy conditions |
| MMS 4 | when snow reaches 8 cm, within 16 hours of accumulation | within 12 hours of icy conditions |
| MMS 5 and 6 | when snow reaches 10 cm, within 24 hours of accumulation | within 16 hours of icy conditions |
We apply salt early in a storm to stop snow from sticking to the road. Once we plow, we salt again to keep ice off the road.
We follow Ontario's Municipal Act, and Minimum Maintenance Standards to keep city sidewalks safe:
We reduce snow on sidewalks to 8 centimetres or less within 48 hours of the snow ending. We treat icy sidewalks within 48 hours of becoming aware of the ice.
We clear sidewalks in this order:
If you are able, consider clearing your own sidewalk or joining Snow Angels to help a neighbour.
View the sidewalk priority map
We clear priority streets first. These are higher-volume roads, including arterial and secondary collector roads, along with bus routes. We clear other residential and secondary streets after priority streets are complete.
Cul-de-sacs and radius elbow corners are difficult for our equipment to clear completely. We pile excess snow in the centre of cul-de-sacs or on city property, and remove it when time and equipment allow. During storms, our first priority is to clear roadways safely.
A windrow is the strip of snow a plow leaves at the end of your driveway. Homeowners are responsible for clearing this snow. Section 170(15) of the Highway Traffic Act prohibits depositing snow or ice on a roadway.
When the City declares a Significant Weather Event, more severe winter weather conditions are forecast or occurring that may delay the normal servicing of roads, bike lanes, trails and sidewalks.
During a Significant Weather Event, standard winter maintenance timelines are paused. This provides additional time for crews to safely restore roads and sidewalks to normal winter service levels. All roads and sidewalks are considered to be in a state of repair until the City declares the event has ended.
Significant Weather Events are announced on the City’s website and social media pages.
When a Significant Weather Event is active, residents are encouraged to avoid unnecessary travel by vehicle, bicycle or on foot. If travel is necessary, allow additional time and use extra caution. Roads, bike lanes, sidewalks and trails may remain difficult to navigate due to winter conditions for an extended period.
Significant Weather Events are declared in accordance with Ontario Regulation 239/02 under the Municipal Act, 2001.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Significant Weather Event mean the City is not clearing roads and sidewalks?
No. During a Significant Weather Event, all available City resources are deployed as they normally would be. However, severe weather conditions may prevent crews from moving through the City as quickly as they would under normal winter conditions.
A Significant Weather Event does not mean there is a reduced level of service or that roads are closed.
Does the City declare when a Significant Weather Event has ended?
Yes. The City will announce when the event has ended through the same communication channels used to announce it. Once the event has ended, standard winter maintenance timelines resume.
Should I travel during a Significant Weather Event?
Residents are encouraged to limit travel and avoid unnecessary trips. This allows snow-clearing crews to work safely and efficiently.
If travel is necessary, use caution and allow additional time for winter conditions.
How does the City notify the public of a Significant Weather Event?
The City will notify the public when a Significant Weather Event begins and ends through:
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Why is there still snow on my street after the plow has gone by?
A cleared street means the plow has passed once. Some snowpack may remain, and windrows, or snowbanks, are normal.
Why does the plow put so much snow in my driveway if I live on a corner lot?
When a plow turns right, it sweeps a larger area of road and pushes more snow ahead, so the first driveway after the turn often receives more snow.
Why doesn't the plow fully clear my cul-de-sac?
Cul-de-sacs are difficult for large equipment to clear completely. They also serve as storage space for excess snow, which we remove when resources allow.
Why does the plow sometimes push snow back onto a sidewalk we already cleared?
Sidewalk equipment moves slower than road plows, so it can be difficult to clear sidewalks after every pass during a long storm.
Why do you salt a road and then plow it?
Salting early prevents snow from freezing to the road. Plowing afterward clears the road down to the pavement, so it does not form a difficult, frozen snowpack.
Why doesn't the plow remove all snow from my road?
Plow blades ride slightly above the road surface to avoid damaging manholes, catch basins and water valves. Remaining snow melts through the combination of salt and traffic, so low-traffic streets may stay snow-covered longer.
Why is the plow driving with its blade up?
This usually means the plow is travelling to or from a route, or protecting freshly applied salt from being scraped off.
Why does the city plow when it is not snowing?
Between storms, we push back snow on road shoulders and widen roads to prepare for future snowfall.
Does the city clear snow from sidewalks completely?
We clear sidewalks using mechanical equipment, but this leaves a packed layer of snow rather than bare pavement. If you are able, consider clearing your sidewalk or helping a neighbour through Snow Angels.
Why is only one side of my street cleared?
We aim to open one side of as many streets as possible first, then return to clear the rest. Arterial roads and school areas receive priority.
Why do sidewalk plows sometimes damage my lawn?
Some older sidewalks are narrower than the plow blade, leaving little margin for error. This can occasionally result in minor damage.
What should I keep away from sidewalks?
Keep hedges, rocks, private curbing and irrigation systems off city property, including the boulevard up to your property line. We are not responsible for damage to items placed there.
Why haven't bus stops been cleared yet?
Bus stops require special plow attachments, so we clear them after sidewalks.
Contact Customer Service, and we will log your address for repair. We complete repairs starting in May, once the winter season ends.
Will the city remove stones thrown onto my lawn during plowing?
We try to minimize this, but if it happens, we ask property owners to remove the stones themselves.
Who clears snow around Canada Post mailboxes?
Canada Post is responsible for this. Contact Canada Post at 1-800-267-1177.
Can I park on the street overnight in winter?
No. Overnight parking is not allowed on city streets from November 15 to March 15, between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.
What if a plow scratches my patterned concrete or interlocking brick driveway?
The city is not responsible for surface scratches to private driveways from winter maintenance.
Contact Us
City of St. Thomas
545 Talbot Street, PO Box 520,
St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 3V7
Canada
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