What happens after snowfall

After snowfall, City crews move from active clearing to managing how snow breaks down over time. This includes sanding slippery areas, opening drainage paths and removing snow from high-impact storage locations. Not all snow can be hauled away. As temperatures fluctuate, remaining snow will melt during the day and may refreeze overnight.

What this means for residents:

• Conditions can change quickly, sometimes within the same day
• Melt and refreeze are normal during freeze–thaw cycles
• Some water pooling will occur before drainage systems fully open, because snowmelt can begin while catch basins and underground pipes are still partially frozen.

How weather plays a role

Freeze–thaw cycles drive much of what residents see during late winter and early spring. When temperatures rise, snow melts. When temperatures drop, that water refreezes. Even after sanding, overnight refreeze can occur.

Relying on warmer temperatures to complete the snowmelt process is part of winter maintenance in northern communities. Crews manage impacts but weather remains a major factor in how quickly conditions improve.

Why potholes appear during freeze–thaw

Freeze–thaw cycles allow water to enter pavement cracks. When water freezes, it expands and weakens the pavement. Repeated cycles and traffic can form potholes.

Crews complete temporary repairs during freeze–thaw conditions and return for longer-lasting repairs when temperatures allow.

Learn more about the City’s approach to potholes here. 

Drainage and water pooling: what’s normal and what’s not

Why water pools:

As snow melts, water needs a clear path to drain. During melt season, storm drains and catch basins may still be partially frozen or opening up. This can cause temporary pooling in lower-lying areas before drainage fully opens and temperatures stabilize.

What’s normal:

• Shallow pooling near curbs, catch basins and in lower-lying areas
• Water that drains as temperatures remain above zero
• Areas that change from day to day as melt continues
• Ongoing pooling and refreeze on sidewalks during freeze–thaw cycles

What’s not normal (report to AccessGP):

• Pooling in roadways that creates traffic safety concerns
• Water that is not draining and is approaching homes or causing a safety hazard

What crews are doing during melt season

Crews focus on monitoring and managing impacts including:

• Sanding slippery sections
• Opening drainage paths 
• Removing snow from high-impact storage locations
• Monitoring repeat pooling and refreeze locations

Work locations may change day to day based on conditions, drainage and snow storage capacity.

What residents can do on personal property

Residents may choose to take simple steps on their own property to help reduce local pooling:

• Clear snow and ice from drainage paths on personal property
• Direct meltwater away from foundations where possible
• Use traction materials on private walkways and driveways. The City provides free sand at the Community Sandbox. 

Storm ponds and melt season

Storm ponds play an important role during melt season by helping manage runoff from melting snow and rainfall. They temporarily hold water and release it slowly into the stormwater system, which helps reduce localized flooding and pressure on drainage infrastructure.

Because water levels and ice conditions can change quickly during freeze–thaw cycles, storm ponds may appear frozen when they are not. Storm ponds are part of the City’s stormwater system and are not permitted for any public use under the Use of Public Lands Bylaw (C-1078).

Please remind children to stay off storm ponds and keep a safe distance from the edges, as melting and refreezing can weaken ice without warning.