Wilmington, DE
Home MenuSnow Preparedness and Removal
To report concerns regarding snow plowing and extraction efforts, please email snow@wilmingtonde.gov.
Winter Storm Hernando Updates:
February 23, 2026 - 5:15 pm
Shelter:
- Due to an increase in expected snow accumulation, William "Hicks" Anderson Community Center (501 N. Madison St.) has been activated as a Code Purple shelter and will remain open through Tuesday, February 24 at 10 am. Walk ins are welcome.
Sanitation:
- Public Works is prepared to resume trash and recycling collection on Wednesday, February 25. The schedule is as follows:
East of 95 - Wednesday
West of 95 - Thursday
East of 95 - Friday
West of 95 - Saturday
- Residents may place both trash and recycling out for pick up. Crews will collect any trash and recycling bins that are accessible to them.
City Operations:
- City offices will reopen on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
Roadway Conditions and Plowing:
- Crews were out brining streets on February 21 and February 22.
- Crews are actively plowing streets. Contractors are on standby in the event that additional support is necessary.
- Be mindful of where you park. Avoid parking too close to crosswalks or street corners so our crews have the space they need to safely access and plow the roads. If you can park in a garage, please do so. Our priority is to make primary streets, bus routes, hospital roads, and school streets passable as quickly as possible.
Preparedness:
- We are expecting strong winds, which increases the likelihood of power outages. If you lose power, please do not call 911; contact Delmarva Power directly.
- Check on neighbors who may need assistance, especially seniors and those with mobility challenges.
View FAQs here.
General Snow Removal Operations:
When a snowstorm blankets the city, approximately 200 miles of city streets are affected. To help you better understand how the City responds when it snows, the Department of Public Works Operations Division has prepared the following information.
The men and women of the DPW Operations Division are responsible for plowing and salting the streets. Additional support is provided by additional DPW personnel.
When the snow arrives, DPW coordinates with the Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Police and the Department of Fire to ensure continuity of service.
Snow Plow Tracker
Operational Plan
Plow trucks are sent to primary streets first. They are:
| PRIMARY STREETS | BUS AND HOSPITAL ARTERIALS | |
| 2nd and 4th Streets | North and South Market Streets | 8th and 9th Streets |
| 10th, 11th and 12th Streets | Miller Road | Claymont Street |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard | Delaware Avenue | DuPont Street |
| Lancaster Avenue | Pennsylvania Avenue | |
| Union Street | Adams Street | |
| Washington Street | Jackson Street | |
| Concord Avenue | North and South Walnut Street | |
As snow continues and primary routes are cleared, plow trucks are redirected to alternate routes. After primary and emergency routes have been cleared, plow trucks move to clear the 17 neighborhood routes. They are:
| Canby Park | South Wilmington (Riverfront) |
| Union Park Gardens | Front Street to 16th Street (from Locust Street to Walnut Street) |
| Westmoreland | Northeast Blvd. to Market Street (from 12th Street to 35th Street) |
| Happy Valley | Delaware Avenue to Lovering Avenue (from Scott Street to Adams Street) |
| Hedgeville | Pennsylvania Avenue to 19th Street (from Broom Street to Rising Sun Lane) |
| Lancaster Avenue/Pennsylvania Avenue (from Jackson Street to Union Street) | French Street to Washington Street (from Front Street to 16th Street) |
| Brandywine Hills | Washington Street to Adams Street (from Front Street to the Brandywine River) |
| 31st Street to Lea Blvd. (from Market Street to Miller Road) | Northeast/Riverside/Eastlake areas |
| 18th Street to 30th Street (from Market Street to Broom Street) |
City Code Regarding Snow Removal
When shoveling your sidewalks and pathways, please remember that Wilmington City Code prohibits depositing the shoveled snow in the street. Please read the code for instructions on where to deposit the snow.
Sec. 42-419. - Procedure for making pathways and snow clearance.
- In removing ice and snow from sidewalks, it shall be unlawful to deposit any part thereof in the gutters or on the roadway forming a part of such public street. Such snow and ice shall be deposited on the sidewalk at or near the curb.
- In removing ice and snow from private motor vehicle parking areas, including commercial parking lots for motor vehicles, or from any area which is not open and used by the public, the following procedures shall apply:
- Snow and ice shall be deposited wholly to the interior of the perimeter of the private lot or behind the building line and shall in no case be deposited so as to obstruct an adjacent sidewalk, gutter, or roadway forming part of a public street.
- The snow and ice removed from a lot or parking area shall not be piled beyond a height of five feet without specific permission to do so by the public works commissioner, nor shall such snow and ice be placed within 15 feet of any fire hydrant.
(Code 1968, § 45-117; Ord. No. 92-053(sub 1), § 1(j), 7-2-92)
Snow Removal Reimbursement Program
If you are part of a civic association, neighborhood group, or homeowners’ association in Wilmington, assistance is available to help cover the cost of snow removal after major storms.
This application outlines the City of Wilmington’s policy for reimbursing eligible community organizations up to 75% of contracted snow removal costs for qualifying storms.
Download the application and policy
Water Utility
To learn how to protect your plumbing ahead of winter storms and to report water emergencies, please click here. You will be redirected to the City's Water Utility website.
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