10/13/2026
It was in the '80s today. Let's talk Winter.
ODOT prepares for Ohio's winter weather
OHIO — While fall forecasts are ahead for the Buckeye State, before we know it freezing temperatures, snow and ice will return and the Ohio Department of Transportation is working ahead to prepare.
ODOT officials are already inspecting snow-fighting equipment and ensuring drivers and materials are set ahead of the first snowfall.
“To help protect the safety of Ohioans on the road, ODOT crews are preparing now to make sure the equipment needed to plow snow and dissolve ice is ready when winter hits,” said Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio. “Safety is our top goal, and Ohio will be ready to help travelers have a clear path on the roads.”
ODOT''s team comprises nearly 3,000 drivers, who often work 12-hour shifts during snow and ice events. Approximately 500 drivers are hired seasonally while most are full-time employees. The department also uses auxiliary drivers, full-time ODOT employees who normally do other tasks.
The team maintains more than 43,000 lane miles of state and U.S. routes outside municipalities and all interstates in Ohio except the Ohio Turnpike and aims to have primary routes back up to speed within two hours and secondary routes within four hours of a snow event. In 2025, crews hit that goal 99.3% of the time.
Mechanics are currently doing 150-point checks on the nearly 1,700 trucks within the fleet to ensure any repairs needed can be done before snow returns.
"ODOT mechanics and plow drivers are vital to keeping people and goods moving safely when severe weather strikes," said ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn. "These inspections ensure every piece of equipment is road-ready so crews can do their jobs treating and plowing highways and bridges. We ask motorists to help keep everyone on the winter roads safe and give plow drivers room to work. Please adjust speeds for winter conditions, move over, slow down, and put the phones down.”
ODOT currently has more than 600,000 tons of salt on hand with more to be delivered throughout the winter.
In 2025 snowfall exceeded 100 inches from far eastern Cuyahoga County through Geauga, far southern Lake and central Ashtabula counties, according to the National Weather Service. Southern Ohio also picked up more than a foot of snow for the season.
Crews drove 9.8 million miles, using nearly 813,000 tons of salt and 16.9 million gallons of liquid deicers.
ODOT urges drivers to be cautious heading into the winter months as 58 snowplows were struck last year.
"We urge Ohio drivers to give crews plenty of room to work, which will result in safer roads for all," ODOT wrote in a press release.
-Madison MacArthur Spectrum News
