Mayor Jud Ashman is urging residents to be patient as the City of Gaithersburg adjusts its snow response strategy ahead of a high impact winter storm, emphasizing safety, effectiveness, and environmental concerns.
In a message shared on social media, Ashman said the city is altering how and when plows are deployed to better align with the forecast. The heaviest snowfall is expected from early Sunday morning through late Sunday afternoon, followed by sleet. Because of the expected sleet and prolonged cold, the city plans to allow snow to accumulate more than it typically would before plowing.
According to the mayor, this approach allows falling sleet to be absorbed into the snowpack rather than freezing directly onto bare pavement, which would create dangerously icy roads. Letting snow accumulate also allows plow operators and public safety personnel to travel more safely throughout the city, while reducing the amount of salt needed and limiting environmental impacts…