What Happens During a Major Snowstorm: How Contractors Prioritize

Snow & Winter · Published September 26, 2026

When London gets a big lake-effect storm, snow removal doesn't happen everywhere at once — it can't. Understanding how contractors prioritize helps you set realistic expectations and know what to ask before you sign.

Storms Aren't One Clearing

A major storm that drops 30 cm isn't cleared in a single visit. Crews often make multiple passes — clearing during the storm to keep up, then a final clean-up once it stops. If a contract only promises one clearing per event, ask what happens during a long storm.

Priority Order

Most contractors clear high-priority commercial sites and seasonal-contract customers first — properties that need to open for business, plus the customers committed for the season. Per-visit callers and lower-priority sites come after. This is another reason a seasonal contract is worth it.

Why Timing Varies

The same contractor might reach your driveway at 5 a.m. after one storm and 9 a.m. after another, depending on when the snow fell, how heavy it was, and where you sit on the route. Overnight storms clear before morning; all-day storms get cleared in passes. It's logistics, not neglect.

The Windrow Complication

Even after your driveway is cleared, the city street plow may come through later and leave a fresh windrow. Good contracts include a return pass for the windrow on major events — see our post on windrow clearing.

Setting Expectations

Ask any contractor how they handle major storms: passes during the storm, priority order, and windrow returns. Clear answers mean a professional operation. See how we run storms on our snow removal page.