How Saint John prepares for winter: Behind the scenes of the City’s snow response

Whether you drive, walk, bike, take transit, park on the street, or simply enjoy the outdoors, winters in Saint John present unique challenges for everyone. Variable weather conditions and the realities of taxpayer-funded service levels add to the complexity of keeping our community safe and moving. Supported by Common Council and city departments, the City's Public Works team undertakes extensive planning and preparation each year to keep streets and sidewalks as clear as possible.

Planning Starts Long Before Snow Falls

Preparation for winter operations begins immediately after the previous season ends. Throughout the spring and summer months, the Public Works team:

• Reviews lessons learned from the past winter
• Updates and improves winter storm response plans
• Repairs or replaces aging equipment
• Replenishes essential materials, including the City's supply of road salt

Intensive Fall Readiness

Winter preparation intensifies in the fall. The Public Works team meets frequently to finalize improvements based on the previous season's performance. Several weeks between construction and winter operations are dedicated to:

• Employee training
• Equipment inspections and preparation
• Detailed planning for operational readiness

Responding to Each Winter Storm

Every storm response begins with constant monitoring. The City uses:

• Five Saint John-based weather stations
• Traditional forecasting tools, including The Weather Network

When forecasters predict a storm, the Public Works team develops a targeted response plan. In many cases, busy streets are pre-treated with a saltwater brine solution-known as Direct Liquid Application (DLA)-to improve traction when snow begins.

Once a storm arrives, emergency management principles guide the response. The team meets at least once daily to:

• Review the previous 24 hours
• Adjust staffing and equipment deployment
• Assess weather and road conditions
• Measure performance
• Plan public communications

Following the plowing phase, typically beginning the next day, the City transitions into snow removal operations. This includes scheduling area-wide parking bans and coordinating street-by-street snow removal efforts. Each storm ends with a full debrief to identify opportunities for improvement.

Audit of Winter Operations Underway

During the 2025-2026 winter season, an external Audit of the City's snow-clearing operations, supported by Common Council, is underway. This review brings added expertise and aims to further strengthen the City's planning, response, and service delivery.

Tools for the Public: Winter Management Plan & Storm Severity Ratings

The City's Winter Management Plan outlines performance targets for street and sidewalk clearing.

To help residents understand service expectations during each storm, the City calculates a Storm Severity Rating, on a scale up to 100, using Environment Canada data. This rating considers:

• Total snowfall accumulation
• Types of precipitation
• Temperature fluctuations
• Wind conditions and drifting

Higher severity scores indicate storms with a greater likelihood of impacting response times.

For more information about winter operations, storm updates, and parking bans, visit www.saintjohn.ca/winter.

Here to help - For inquiries related to municipal services, contact the City of Saint John Customer Service Centre at (506) 658-4455, email [email protected]or visit us in person on the Ground Floor of City Hall, 15 Market Square, Monday to Friday (excluding holidays), 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.