Bend is a 3,623-foot-elevation town known for great downhill and Nordic skiing. That means we get snow! Average snowfall is more than 20 inches of snow in a winter. Storms vary from a couple of inches to more than a foot. The severity of snow and road conditions also can vary depending on which part of town you live in.

It takes some effort to maintain your lifestyle when winter hits, so it is very important to be prepared. Get the resources and supplies you need on hand before you’re snowed in. It’s never too soon to make some phone lists, find your snow tires and buy snow shovels and roof rakes.

Did you know it is a property owners responsibility to shovel sidewalks that border the property? Many of our neighbors rely on a clear sidewalk to get to and from work, school or bus stops. To help keep sidewalks safe and passable for your neighbors during winter snow storms, read these guidelines about snow removal from sidewalks.

Are you an experienced snow driver? Deschutes County offers a great winter driving training for those lacking winter experience. And be sure to peek at the Oregon Department of Transportation’s helpful winter driving guide.

More tips for preparing and protecting your home can be found at bendoregon.gov/winter.

During winter operations, we prioritize the highest-use streets that accommodate the most drivers and access major employment areas, schools and transit routes. Priority routes receive de-icing, sanding, and plowing first. More plowing info and maps here. Lower-use streets—the local residential streets—are a lower priority.

We're set up for the average winter, but the occasional extreme storms can be challenging. We maintain 850 lane miles with two daily work shifts, 18 snow plow operators per shift and 25 pieces of equipment, from light-duty pickups to medium-duty dump trucks to heavy-duty (two motor graders) with plows.

After 6 inches of snow accumulates we evaluate calling in contractors to help, typically on the local residential roads. Our Streets crews will support and collaborate with Police and Fire to provide access for emergency services.

We understand that plowing snow berms across driveways can be frustrating for some residents. The City does not have the equipment or staffing to clear berms from the 30,000+ driveways in Bend. However, this year we have purchased one snow gate for one grader as a pilot project to see how it works in an urban setting, without negatively impacting plowing productivity.

Hydraulic snow gates at the end of the grader’s plow can be lowered when plowing across a driveway or side street. The snow gate holds snow at the plow blade and then the gate is raised to release the snow at the end of the driveway or cross street. In rural settings with considerable distance between driveways, snow gates get some positive reviews. We will try one this year and see how effective it is in an urban environment, primarily on the priority routes.