You can now track the City of Toronto's snow-clearing operations in real time (MAP)

600 snow plows, 300 sidewalk plows, and 200 salt trucks.

That is how much goes into Toronto’s snow removal operation during each storm.

While residents are asked to clear their sidewalks for everyone’s safety, you can now keep up with the City of Toronto’s snow removal efforts in real time.

The City has created Plow TO, which includes snow removal updates and a real time map of Toronto. The page enables users to enter a specific address in Toronto, and follow the winter road maintenance of the area.

Plow TO map/City of Toronto

In a media release, the City reminded residents how winter road maintenance operations take place:

As soon as the snow begins, Transportation Services sends its fleet of salt trucks to the expressways and the main roads. The salt trucks then move to local roads. If the City receives 2.5 centimetres of snow, the plows are sent to the expressways and, if five centimetres falls, plows also go to the main roads, with plowing taking place intermittently for the duration of the storm.

It is only when the snow stops, and if the snow accumulation has reached eight centimetres, that plows are sent to local roads. The City will clear the local roads between 14 and 16 hours after the snow stops falling.

A reminder as well to those in the downtown core, property owners are required to clear their sidewalks of snow within the 12 hours following a storm.

For further up-to-date information from the City’s operations in regards to snow, follow TO Winter Operations.

Stay safe out there, Toronto!

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