Des Moines Public Works responds to first snow

AMANDA: LAURA, I’M HERE IN THEE? STORMCHASE MY PHOTOGRAPHER, JOHN HOUGHTON, IS DRIVING. ‘W’RE HEADED WEST ON I-235 DAN THERE’S A GOOD AMOUNT OF SNOW PACKED ON THE ROS.AD HERE’S A LIVE LOOK AT WHAT WE’RE SEEING. THERE’S NO MORE SNOW FALLING, AND YOU CAN SEE THE PLOWS HAVE DONE A DECENT JOB AT GETTING MOST OF THE SNOW OFF THE ROADS. WE’VE TRAVELED ALL ACROSS DES MOINES TODAY, TRACKING THE STORM’S IMPACT. THE NEW YEAR IS OFF TO AN YIC START. E FITHRST SNOWSTORM OF THE SEASON IS HERE. FRIDAY NIGHT, S DEMOINES PUBLIC WORKS CREW WORKED TO SPREAD SALT ON THE SNOW ROUTES. AND WHEN THE SNOW STARTED FALLING SATURDAY, 100 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT AND 100 PEOPLE BEHIND THE WHEEL HIT THE STREETS. >> THEY’RE WORKING THE ROUTES CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL THE SNOW STS. AND THEN IT’LL TAKE ABOUT ANOTHER HOUR OR TWO TO GET ONE LAST PASS AND PUT DOWN SOME SALT ON EACH OF THOSE SNOW ROUTES BEFORE THEY THEN LAUNCH INTOLL A THE SIDE STREETS AND CAT TCHHE REST OF EVERY STREET IN DES MOINES AMANDA: CITY OFFICIALS SAY IT’S IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW SAFE WINTER DRIVING TIPS, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT’S BEEN MONTHS SINCE THE LAST SNOWFALL. THEY ALSO SAY THESE STORM CONDIOITNS ARE SOMEWHAT ABNORMAL. >> WHAT’S VERY UNUSUAL ABOUT THIS STORM IS THE VERY UNSEASONABLY COLD TEMPERATURES . WE’RE DOWN IN SINGLE DIGITS ALREADY AND WILL GET DOWN BELOW ZERO IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. AT THAT POINT, THE SALT WORKS MUCH LESS EFFECTIVELY. ANAMDA: DESPITE THE FREEZING TEMPERATURE, SOME IOWANS SAY THEY’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS WEATHER ALL WINTER. >> I LOVSNE OW. BECAUSE IT’S WINTER. IT CREATES THIS NICE, BEAUTIFUL CALM, AND IT’S LOVELY, AND IT HELPS THE YARD DEVELOP WHAITT NEEDS TO OVER THE WINTER. SNOW IS PERFECT. AMANDA: D ANTHE PILES OF SNOW DOESN’T BOTHER JULIE EITHER. WITH A SHOVEINL HAND, SHE’S READY GTO >> THIS ONLY TOOK ABOUT 5-7 MINUTES. I JUST ZIP RIGHTHR TOUGH, ZIP, ZIP, ZIP, ZIP. YOU DON’T EVEN NOTICE IT. AND THEN THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU’RE DON AMANDA: AND SHE HOPES SATURDAY’S SNOW IS JUST THE START. >> HOPING THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE REST OF THE WINTER AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME GOOD, COLD DAYS AND SOME MORE SNOW THROUGHOUT THE NEXT SIX OR EIGHT WES. AMANDA: AND HERE’S ANOTHER LIVE LOOK AT I-5.23 EVEN THOUGH THE SNOW IS LETTING UP, CITY OFFIAICLS STILL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO STAY OFF THE ROADS. YOU CAN KEEP TRACK OF THE OWSN PLOWING PROGRESS AT DMSNOW.ORG. LIVE IN DES MOINES, AMANDA ROEROK, KCCI 8 NEWS, IOWA’S NE

Des Moines Public Works responds to first snow

Updated: 10:51 PM CST Jan 1, 2022

The new year is off to an icy start: the first storm of the season is finally here. Des Moines Public Works says plow teams were out last night working all the snow routes with salt spreaders. When the storm finally showed up today, the city sent out a full response: 100 pieces of equipment and 100 people behind the wheel. Des Moines Public Works says they will be working the snow routes continuously. Once the snow stops, they will clear the rest of the side streets across the Des Moines area. City officials say it’s important to follow safe winter driving tips, especially since it’s been months since anyone’s driven in the snow. Des Moines Public Works Director Jonathan Gano says “What’s very unusual about this storm is the very unseasonably cold temperatures were down in single digits already and will get down below zero in the overnight hours. At that point, the salt works much less effectively.”Gano tells Iowans “stay home if you don’t need to go anywhere,” and to reduce speeds when driving.KCCI’s Amanda Rooker reports.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

The new year is off to an icy start: the first storm of the season is finally here.

Des Moines Public Works says plow teams were out last night working all the snow routes with salt spreaders.

When the storm finally showed up today, the city sent out a full response: 100 pieces of equipment and 100 people behind the wheel.

Des Moines Public Works says they will be working the snow routes continuously. Once the snow stops, they will clear the rest of the side streets across the Des Moines area.

City officials say it’s important to follow safe winter driving tips, especially since it’s been months since anyone’s driven in the snow.

Des Moines Public Works Director Jonathan Gano says “What’s very unusual about this storm is the very unseasonably cold temperatures were down in single digits already and will get down below zero in the overnight hours. At that point, the salt works much less effectively.”

Gano tells Iowans “stay home if you don’t need to go anywhere,” and to reduce speeds when driving.

KCCI’s Amanda Rooker reports.