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SPOKANE, Wash. - The City of Spokane has declared a Stage 1 Snow Event.

The city currently has 53 pieces of equipment which will be focused on snow emergency routes including arterials, hospital district routes, STA bus routes and residential hill routes among others. Additionally, city utility crews have been re-tasked to support snow coverage efforts through the incoming storm.

During the snow event, the city is asking residents to move parked cars off all arterials and STA bus routes, move parked cars on residential hill routes to the even side of the street.

The city is also asking drivers to exercise a little bit more caution by doing the following:

Slow down, be patient, and drive according to conditions.

Not to follow plows closely. They can generate clouds of snow making it difficult to see and can kick up sand. (Staying four car lengths back is a good rule of thumb)

Not try to pass plow trucks; it's very dangerous.

Not get between plows as they often work in teams of two or three

Drive with caution when near a plow as the plow operator may not have the same field of vision as a smaller vehicle. You will see them, but they may not see you.

You can monitor snow removal progress online.