Devon Snow Wardens - welcome to winter
Good afternoon County Snow Wardens (SWs),
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of Councillor Stuart Hughes (Cabinet member for Highways Management) and Meg Booth (Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste) to provide you with a “Welcome to Winter” message and to once again thank you all for your support and availability throughout the previous winter service period.
The weather during the 2020 -21 winter service period wasn’t too challenging with regards to prolonged snow and we can expect a similar forecast in the coming months. Here’s a recap of the last year’s winter:
- Over 220,000km of road salted by 3023 individual grit runs
- Dartmoor was treated the most on 120 occasions
- Exmouth was treated the least on just 58 occasions
- Over 18,000 tonnes of salt were used (twice that used in each of the last two years)
- Lowest road temperature -7.2°C on Dartmoor on 31st Dec
- About 7cm of snow fell on Dartmoor on 4th December
- 10 nights with roads below -5°C
- Some secondary routes treated on 5 occasions
- 27 requests for salt were received over the past winter delivering 42 tonnes. In addition, 462 requests to refill or repair salt bins were attended to by our contractor.
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Should a substantial amount of snow hit Devon during this year’s winter service period it would have a significant impact on the network; effecting local communities, vulnerable people and the economy. Without your ongoing support during this time our emergencies services would struggle to provide an effective response to hard to reach individuals. It’s reassuring to know that Devon is supported by key individuals, such as yourselves, during periods of severe weather and prolonged snow.
Last year marked the 10th anniversary of the Snow Warden scheme, long may it continue.
You will receive a further weather update in mid-November and each subsequent month throughout the winter service period.
Thank you once again and we welcome your continued support throughout this winter service period.
Thank you.
Rob Schofield - Network Operations Control Centre Manager
 Continuing to volunteer as a Snow Warden
In order to update our Snow Warden database, and our automated text message service, could we please ask you to resubmit your details on our online form
 Met Office long range forecast (until 10th Nov 21):
Unsettled conditions are likely to continue during late October. There are indications that drier interludes may become more prolonged across the south and southeast whilst wetter and windier conditions continue in the north and northwest. Temperatures are set to be around average for the rest of October. Confidence becomes very low into the start of November where widely settled periods could develop periodically with an increased risk of frost and fog, although unsettled periods are still possible. Temperatures in November are likely to remain a little above average overall but with an increased likelihood of some colder spells.
Weather updates
The NOCC will only provide weather update messages/SMS texts when snow is expected and will not respond to emails/texts. Any questions and issues should be directed to your Highway Neighbourhood Officer in the first instance.
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