Snow Storm & Plow Information

  • Snow Plowing Status: The Snow Plowing Status map is only used to track the plowing status of residential streets during class 3 events (a storm that lasts more than 24 hours with snow accumulations greater than 9 inches).

Residential Streets and Plowing Shifts 

Residential Streets - Residents will not necessarily see bare pavement after plowing residential streets. The emphasis for residential streets is to create a single passable lane down the middle that can be navigated by passenger vehicles equipped for winter travel. 

Blocked Driveways - During heavy snowfalls, problems arise for residents when mounds of snow left on the sides of streets may block driveways. Although a concerted effort is made to avoid this, it is not always possible. Residential streets are plowed down the center of the road to prevent covering sidewalks and parked cars or blocking driveways. The City of Thornton does not remove or haul away snow as part of this program.

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​​The city divides storms into three classes and responds accordingly. In any snowstorm, the city's first commitment is to clear the primary routes, then secondary roads — and keep them cleared. In the case of a Class III storm (and only in this case), the city will also bring on contract equipment to clear all 738 lane miles of residential streets.

  • Class I - A storm that lasts less than 12 hours; snow accumulations of less than 4 inches.

  • Class II - A storm that lasts more than 12 hours; snow accumulates between 4 and 8 inches.

  • Class III - A storm lasting more than 24 hours, snow accumulating over 9 inches.