Winter Weather Information
Posted on 02/09/2021
Cold Weather Street Maintenance

City of Renton Seal

For life threatening emergencies, call 9-1-1 right away. If 9-1-1 is not working, call the Renton Police Department's non-emergency number at 425-235-2121 and provide your information.

Winter Preparations

  • Cold weather updates

Go behind the scenes as the city's street maintenance crews prepare for winter weather.

 

Pre-treatment

Before snowfall lands on cold streets, city crews stand ready to apply anti-icer to prevent snow from sticking, making it easier to plow.

Priority Routes

Priority routes are arterials, secondary arterials and collectors, bridges, schools, hospitals and fire stations and are first to be pre-treated with anti-icer to help keep ice and snow from bonding to the pavement, allowing quicker snow removal through plowing. Trucks are assigned to a specific location in the city and follow a priority mapping system for that area.

High Volume Areas

Streets that receive a high volume of traffic such as NE 4th, Sunset, Benson, Talbot, Carr Road, school routes and the main access roads to Renton Hill and West Hill are first priority for anti-icer pre-treating plowing and sanding. During peak commute hours, these streets receive the most attention because sand dissipates quickly on well-traveled roads. Secondary arterials such as Union and Duvall are plowed and sanded next and the residential areas receive attention when the primary and secondary routes are completed. During severe weather conditions, high priority areas are sanded approximately four times during a 24-hour period.

Hospitals

The emergency entrances to Valley Medical Center and Group Health are maintained by city crews and are a first priority during snowfall. Crews carefully document each street after it has been plowed and sanded, recording the date, time and condition. These vehicles are also equipped with GPS tracking.

Problem Areas

Problem areas that are called in by police, citizens, or other city departments are handled by priority and truck availability.

Impacts on Collections

Road conditions may also impact garbage, recycling and yard waste collection routes in Renton. Hauler trucks are heavy and the City and contractors are concerned with public safety. Find out more information about winter weather impacts on garbage and debris removal below.

Be Cautious

City crews do an excellent job of keeping the streets of Renton sanded for residents. Many accidents are caused by excessive speed for the road conditions. It is important for citizens to be cautious at all times, as road conditions can change quickly and drivers must beware.

In extreme conditions, you are advised to travel only in a situation that is urgent or an emergency. If you see a city snow plow or de-icer truck, please stay back and clear.


Information from the city's Emergency Management division

Emergency Instructions

Drive safely, please, and watch your step! Accidents of all kinds are more likely to happen in this kind of weather. Check on others who might need help.

If your power is out, dress in layers and stay dry to stay warm. For food safety, avoid opening your refrigerator door unless absolutely necessary. Additional information on getting through a power outage is available from Puget Sound Energy and Seattle City Light.

For life threatening emergencies call 9-1-1 right away. If 9-1-1 is not working, call the non-emergency number at 425-235-2121 and provide your location information.

To get the most current emergency instructions for your area, sign up for ALERT Renton.

Utilities

Water

Sewer

Electricity, Gas, and Power

Garbage and Debris Removal

  • Inclement weather conditions may prevent collection of garbage, recycling and organics. Should this occur, please remove your carts from the curb at the end of the day and follow the guidelines below.
  • Recycling and garbage carts will be collected on Saturday immediately following the missed collection, road conditions permitting.

  • Organics will be collected on the next regularly scheduled collection day the following week.

For more information please visit our Solid Waste Utilities division.

Roads

  • To report roads blocked by fallen trees or abandoned cars, call the Renton Police non-emergency number at 425-235-2121.

  • Planned road closures are posted on the Impact Traffic Report page.

  • See Renton snow routes for plowing and sanding information. Plowing is complete on primary roads, and crews are wrapping up on plowing secondary roads. Some roads cannot be plowed because cars are in the way.

Weather

  • For current weather alerts and information in Renton see the National Weather Service seven day forecast.

Bus Services

  • Disruptions to regular bus and transportation services are posted by King County Metro

Social Media

Winter Storm Tips

From Puget Sound Energy.

  • Make sure to have emergency supplies on hand at home and in your vehicle, such as extra batteries, flashlights, food and blankets
  • Have a battery-powered radio ready to go
  • Charge cell phones and mobile devices in case the power goes out
  • Download the PSE mobile outage app to track and report outages, check status and get estimated restoration times, or visit our website.

Safety first

  • Never touch or go within 35 feet of downed power lines because they might be energized. Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 or 911 to report problems.
  • Do not use a charcoal or gas grill to cook indoors. Never use a natural gas range for heating, or charcoal as an indoor heating source. This can cause a buildup of poisonous carbon monoxide gas.
  • If you choose to use a portable home generator, read the manufacturer’s instructions for the safe operation of the generator. Do not operate generators indoors or in enclosed spaces to avoid the build up of carbon monoxide.
  • If you’re using portable heaters, keep them away from furniture, draperies and other flammable materials.
  • Always use flashlights instead of candles.

 Snowstorms and Extreme Cold

King County's Emergency News website has tips and links to help you through the storm. Included is bus information, severe weather shelters, and tips for staying warm.

Dealing with Downed Power Lines

from Puget Sound Energy

Keep clear of fallen utility wires

If you come across a downed utility wire of any kind, always do the following:

Assume it's energized and stay as far away as you can.

Energized lines can charge the ground near the point of contact and may electrocute you. If you come upon a downed line of any kind, stay at least 35 feet away. Do not attempt to rescue a person or pet.

Call 911 or the utility serving the location. For Puget Sound Energy, call 1-888-225-5773. Leave everything to utility professionals and emergency personnel.

Do not drive over downed power lines.
Even if they're not energized, downed wires can get entangled with your vehicle and cause further damage.

Stay in your car.
If a power line falls on your vehicle while you're driving, do not exit until you know for sure that the line is de-energized.

If you must evacuate, jump away and land with both feet together.
Do not touch the vehicle while stepping on the ground, as this can create a path for electricity to run through you.

Shuffle away to safety.
Keep your feet together and take small, shuffling steps until you're at least 35 feet away. Taking larger steps can also create a path for electricity to run through you.

Loss of Power - Stay Safe

from Puget Sound Energy

If you’re without power, we encourage you to stay safe:

  • Do not use a charcoal or gas grill to cook indoors.
  • Never use a natural gas range for heating, or charcoal as an indoor heating source. This can cause a buildup of poisonous carbon monoxide gas.
  • If you choose to use a portable home generator, read the manufacturer’s instructions for the safe operation of the generator. Do not operate generators indoors or in enclosed spaces to avoid the build-up of carbon monoxide.
  • If you’re using portable heaters, keep them away from furniture, draperies and other flammable materials.
  • Always use flashlights instead of candles.
  • Never touch or go within 35 feet of downed power lines because they might be energized. Call PSE at 1-888-225-5773 or 911 to report problems.
  • Find a warming shelter near you.

 Outage Status

General outage information

Your Roof ... and Snow

As snow melts, it is important to ensure rooftop drains and downspouts are clear of ice or other obstructions and functioning. 

All roofs have a designed snow load and if you are unsure about how much snow your roof can support, contact a professional.

There are several ways to remove snow from your roof. But before attempting, please review these safety tips from King County.

  • Removing snow from your roof with a shovel can trigger unexpected snow slides causing crushing/suffocating injuries or death. Keep people and animals away from potential slide zones.

  • It is strongly recommend you not access your roof to clear snow. Climbing on a roof increases the load already stressed by the heavy snow load. The use of ladders when removing snow from your roof can pose additional hazards.

  • Consider hiring experts who have experience and specialized equipment for safely clearing snow or ice.

  • Clear any accumulation of snow around side wall vents that connect to household appliances, such as a clothes dryer.

Remember, the ultimate goal is not to remove all visible snow and ice, but rather to remove enough to relieve the excessive load on your roof.

City News Releases

About the City of Renton

The City of Renton, Washington, with a population of 104,100 (2018), is located on the southeast shore of Lake Washington, just south of Seattle. Renton's strong economic base, diverse marketplace and favorable business climate have attracted the attention of nationally recognized companies that are providing employees and their families an outstanding quality of life. Renton is the home of Boeing, PACCAR, IKEA, the Seattle Seahawks, and the eternal resting place of Jimi Hendrix. More information can be found on our website, news releases, or Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor pages.

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