Winter Tips and Reminders

Wentzville’s Public Works team clears more than 400 lane miles of streets during a snow event. Crews work 24 hours a day in rotating 12-hour shifts to ensure roads are safe for urgent and necessary travel. It typically takes about 18 hours to pre-salt and single plow the through lanes across the entire City. In addition to major roads and snow routes, the City has more than 500 cul-de-sacs, which require extra time and careful maneuvering to clear effectively. Some roads within City limits are maintained by MoDOT or St. Charles County and may follow a different plowing schedule.

When snowplows clear streets, their main goal is to ensure emergency, urgent and necessary travel can occur. This plowing process collects snow from the center of the road and stores it along the edge of the road. Unfortunately, this process results in snow storage in front of the entire road including mailboxes and driveways. Here’s why this happens and how you can help:

• How Plow Blades Work: Snowplows are designed with angled blades that push snow to the side of the road, typically toward the curb or shoulder. As the plow moves forward, it continuously clears snow from the roadway, depositing it along the edges.
• Limited Space in Residential Areas: In cul-de-sacs where homes are close together, there isn’t much room to store snow along the curb. As a result, the snow being cleared from the street ends up in any open areas around the cul-de-sac, including open pavement areas.
• Heavy Snowfall Means More Snow: The more snow there is, the more the plow has to move and store. During significant snowfalls, the increased volume of snow leads to larger amounts of stored snow along the side of the road.,
• The Science Behind Snow Movement: As the plow pushes snow, the momentum of the blade carries it in the direction the blade is angled. Unfortunately, there’s no way to stop or redirect the snow as the plow passes a driveway, so the plow naturally deposits snow in a continuous row along both sides of the street.
• How You Can Help: Snow plows push snow to the side of the road, which will result in snow piling up at the curb line including at mailboxes and driveways. When there is 3” of snow or less, you can help minimize this by clearing the street area in front of and to the left of your driveway (when facing the street) before plows come through.

During major snow events, residents are encouraged to wait to clear the end of their driveways at the curb until after plowing is complete. Snow plows usually drive by each home multiple times during a major snow event, and the curb line and driveway receive more snow for storage every time. Snow will be stored along the curb line during initial “CLEAR TRACKS” clearing and later on during “CURB-TO-CURB WIDENING” operations. This allows the City’s snow removal crews to focus on keeping roads clear and drivable.

If you have concerns, email SnowConcern@wentzvillemo.gov or call (636) 327-5101 during regular business hours to report the issue.

Main routes prioritize clearing main thoroughfares, emergency routes, and high-traffic areas This ensures that emergency and primary travel routes are cleared.

Residential streets and subdivisions are cleared in the following ways.

1. “Clear tracks” are completed on all residential streets with a driving pass around cul-de-sacs; this operation continues until completed, which could take up to 18 hours after the snow stops. Clear tracks take place to ensure residents can get out and travel if needed.
2. “Curb-to-curb widening” takes place after the “clear tracks” have been completed. This widens streets to as wide as safely possible given the type of storm. This operation continues until completed, which could take up to 12 hours after the snow stops. 
3. Once all streets are widened, “cleanup” begins. This includes intersections and cul-de-sacs. This operation continues until completed.

The timing of a snow event and when accumulation begins can also affect when your street is cleared. Plow trucks begin their routes at different points and work through their assigned areas in a continuous cycle. This means they complete the full route before starting over, which may result in your street being cleared later, depending on the timing of the snow and where the truck starts. Additionally, some streets in Wentzville are maintained by MoDOT or St. Charles County and may follow a different plowing schedule.

The City balances safety and environmental impact when applying salt and deicing materials. Excessive use can damage infrastructure, harm vegetation and pollute waterways. The City strategically applies these materials to ensure effectiveness while minimizing environmental harm.

Additionally, depending on the type of weather event, salting the roads may be ineffective and wasteful. For example, if rain is expected prior to snowfall, the rain can wash away the salt, making it ineffective. Salt also becomes less effective the colder it gets. In such cases, the City carefully times its use of de-icing materials to maximize their impact and efficiency.

You can send a shout out to a snowfighter (or any City employee) by completing this form. Thanks for helping recognize these amazing employees for the work they are doing to keep our roads clear and safe!

A snow emergency is declared when significant snowfall is forecast. To allow plows to operate efficiently, parking on public roadways is prohibited during a snow emergency. Residents may park in driveways, even if it blocks sidewalks while a snow emergency is in effect.

The mayor of Wentzville declares a snow emergency to ensure snow plows and emergency vehicles have clear access to roads during significant snow or ice events. Removing cars from roadways during these emergencies is critical for efficient snow removal and safety. Cars parked on the street during snow emergencies also block the space needed for stored snow.

The mayor of Wentzville declares a snow emergency to ensure snow plows and emergency vehicles have clear access to roads during significant snow or ice events. Removing cars from roadways during these emergencies is critical for efficient snow removal and safety. Cars parked on the street during snow emergencies also block the space needed for stored snow.

When a snow emergency is issued, immediately remove all vehicles from public roadways. You may park in your driveway, even if it blocks sidewalks, during the emergency. This helps plow clear roads more effectively and ensures access for emergency vehicles.

Vehicles left on public roadways during a snow emergency may be stickered, ticketed and/or towed. This policy helps plows and emergency vehicles navigate safely and efficiently. To report vehicles parked on the street during a snow emergency, please call (636) 327-5105.

Residents must:

• Remove parked cars from the streets before heavy snow or when a snow emergency is issued.
• Avoid storing snow around fire hydrants to ensure they are visible and accessible to firefighters.
• Clear snow around their mailbox if mail delivery is needed.
• Clear their driveway to restore a 10-foot-wide emergency access path from the street to their garage or house door. The curb line at the end of the drive may need to be cleared multiple times during the snow removal process.
• Move curb line snow in the street to the right side of their driveway (when facing the street) to minimize additional snow storage at the driveway. (Please note this is less effective with snowfall of more than 3”.)

Residents are responsible for clearing the sidewalks adjacent to their property to ensure safe pedestrian access.

Yes, businesses must clear snow and ice from sidewalks and parking lots to provide safe access for customers and employees. All snow removed from private lots must remain on private property.

If your mailbox is damaged, the City will install a temporary mailbox until repairs can be made. For replacement, the City will reimburse up to $100 for a mailbox that meets USPS requirements. The City does not compensate for private landscaping or irrigation in the right-of-way that is damaged. Sod damaged during snow removal will be repaired by the City as soon as materials are available.

When you submit a concern about a damaged mailbox or lawn due to snow removal, the City will assess the situation after the snow event has concluded. Please note that these concerns will not be addressed during active snow operations, as crews prioritize roadway snow clearing before mailboxes are addressed.

• Mailbox Concerns: If your mailbox is damaged, the City will install a temporary mailbox if needed and reimburse up to $100 for a replacement that meets USPS requirements.
• Lawn Concerns: For lawn damage, the City will repair or restore sod at the earliest availability of materials, typically during the growing season.

To report an issue, email SnowConcern@wentzvillemo.gov or call (636) 327-5101. We appreciate your patience as we work to address concerns as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

Winter weather alerts, which are issued by the National Weather Service or another weather authority and not by the City, provide important information about potential or ongoing weather conditions:Watch: Conditions are favorable for a winter storm; issued at least 24 hours in advance.

• Advisory: Significant inconvenience expected; exercise caution. Typically issued for 3-5 inches of snow in 12 hours.
• Warning: Severe conditions threatening life or property; issued for 6+ inches of snow in 12-24 hours.

• Winter weather alerts, which are issued by the National Weather Service or another weather authority and not by the City, provide important information about potential or ongoing weather conditions:

Services like solid waste collection may be delayed or rescheduled during winter weather. Updates are posted on the City’s website and various social media channels.

For the latest updates, visit www.wentzvillemo.gov, follow the City’s social media channels, or sign up for the City’s emergency notification system at www.wentzvillemo.gov/SignUpForWIND.

Avoid parking on the street during snow events, especially during snow emergencies, to allow plows and emergency vehicles to navigate safely.