City Crews Adjust to Warmer Temperatures

Arterials, hills, and problem areas remain focus during melt-off.

Kirstin Davis, 509.625.7773

Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at 8:28 a.m.

Higher temperatures and rain are melting the large amount of snowfall and compact ice throughout the City of Spokane. Street Department crews continue to focus on main arterials, hills, and responding to problem areas with sand and deicing. City Wastewater Management crews are working with snow response crews to clear storm drains that could cause standing water on arterials.

Significant snowfall levels, delayed leaf drops and frozen ground combine to create a challenge for runoff to enter the stormwater collection system. Drains clogged with snow, ice or other debris may cause localized flooding problems.

Here’s How You Can Help

There are about 12,000 storm drains in the City and crews won’t be able to get to each one. Residents can help minimize pooling water in their neighborhoods by clearing away snow and debris from nearby storm drains to provide an easier path for excess water. If you don’t know where the closest storm drain is to your house or business, you can use MapSpokane on the City’s web site to find out.

Here are the steps to find your storm drain:

  • Go to the map.
  • Click on Search in the top left corner.
  • Put your address into the Search tool so it the map zooms into it.
  • Go to the layers icon in the top right corner, click Utilities.
  • Select Stormwater, then Stormwater Inlet
  • Green lines should appear on the map that shows the location of stormwater infrastructure.
  • The small squares depict the storm drains or catch basins.

Standing water can obstruct pedestrians and create challenges for motorists. If you see a flooded intersection or street within the City, don’t drive through it; your vehicle could stall. Please report street flooding or standing water by calling 509.625.7900. Crews can respond to situations that are specific and adjacent to a drain being obstructed and not standing water between berms.