Snow and Ice Control
Snowplows typically begin clearing snow and ice at 5 a.m. and continue until approximately 7 p.m., as conditions warrant.
Average recovery time, in hours, to return to normal winter driving speeds after a qualifying winter storm event ends. This is measured at key automatic traffic recorders (ATR) across North Dakota. ATRs record the count and speed of all vehicles crossing a sensor in the pavement, 24/7/365. The criteria for a “qualifying” storm event and its end time follow:
Storm Trigger Requirements:
| NDDOT Storm Category |
Description |
Precipitation |
Duration |
Wind Speed |
| 1 |
Snow Accumulation |
>= 2" |
All |
All |
| 2 |
Freezing Rains |
All |
All |
All |
| 3 |
High Winds |
>= Trace |
>= 2 hours |
>= 35 mph |
- When weather conditions meet at least one of the above three criteria, the weather event is to be considered a storm.
Storm Expiration Requirements:
| NDDOT Storm Category |
Description |
Precipitation |
Duration |
Wind Speed |
| 1 |
Snow Accumulation |
<= Trace |
All |
<= 35 mph |
| 2 |
Freezing Rains |
None |
All |
All |
| 3 |
High Winds |
<= Trace |
All |
<= 35 mph |
- When weather conditions meet all three of the above criteria, the storm is considered finished.
Speed Recovery Requirements:
- When average speeds are reestablished to or above 90% of pre‐storm speeds (4‐hr average) and are sustained for a period of 6 hours.
Color Definitions
- Poor performance (i.e. not meeting target).
- Good performance, but at risk of falling below target.
- Good performance.
- Information only; no target has been set or the target only applies to the end of the year.
