Keeping roads safe and reliable through winter weather is a year-round effort. At King County Road Services, our work follows a continuous cycle of preparation, response, and recovery to help communities stay connected before, during, and after storms.
As winter approaches, bringing the potential for snow, ice, flooding, and severe weather, our crews are training, inspecting equipment, stocking materials, and preparing to respond wherever needed across unincorporated King County.
Whether winter weather affects a small area or creates impacts across the county, Road Services is ready to respond and keep people moving safely.
Winter Weather Response Map
When snow falls, check the Winter Weather Response Map to see which roads have been plowed and treated in unincorporated King County. The map provides current information about winter operations and road conditions.
Road Services maintains 583 miles of designated snow and ice routes. During winter weather, crews focus on keeping major roads open for travel while protecting the safety of travelers and road maintenance staff.
Where We Plow First
During snow and ice events, crews service routes in priority order, starting with Category 1 and Category 2 roads. Crews focus first on:
- Life-safety routes serving hospitals, fire stations, and emergency services
- Major roads and arterials
- Transit routes
- Roads serving densely populated areas and key community connections
View the Snow Routes Map to see priority routes.
Depending on snowfall amounts and road conditions, it may take three days or more to plow and treat all priority routes.
Other plow routes
After the category 1 and 2 routes are clear, we move on to plow snow and treat the remaining snow and ice routes.
What You Can Do
Help prepare yourself and your family before winter weather arrives:
- Stay informed and limit travel during severe winter storms.
- Winterize your vehicle and carry an emergency kit.
- Clear sidewalks and driveways when safe to do so.
- Check on and support neighbors who may need assistance.
Important Reminders
- Please be patient with our crews. During severe weather, they may work around the clock to monitor conditions and respond to emergencies.
- Free sandbags are available at county distribution sites. Community members should bring their own shovel.
- Report roadway concerns to the 24/7 Road Helpline at 206-477-8100. For non-urgent matters, email maint.roads@kingcounty.gov.
- Never drive through flooded roadways or standing water. Remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown®.
Stay Informed
For the latest road and weather information:
- MyCommute Map for real-time road closure information
- Road Alerts email and text notifications
- ALERT King County emergency notifications
Winter weather can change conditions quickly. Planning ahead and staying informed helps keep everyone safe on the road.
