Track Maryland snow plows with the state’s web app: STORM

With snow in the forecast, Marylanders can make use of a new tool that shows where streets are getting plowed.

As it rolled out new features to handle snowfall this winter, the State of Maryland’s transportation department launched a new tech tool to help citizens track snow plows and other equipment that’s getting the roads ready to handle winter weather.

When snowfall is in the forecast, as it is for this coming weekend of Jan. 12-13, the State Highway Administration wants to provide a way to look at where the trucks are working.

Snow will overspread the region Saturday into Sunday. A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for portions of the region where there is potential for 5 or more inches of snow. Elsewhere, accumulating snow is still likely. pic.twitter.com/15Quy9zUGg

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) January 11, 2019

STORM, short for Statewide Transportation Operations Response Map, offers capability to enter an address, and see what state-owned snow removal vehicles or contractors are operating in the area. That includes the brine trucks treating the roads prior to a storm, and the plows that are called into action once the snow is falling. The trucks are visible when moving at 10 mph or greater.

“An average snow route takes a plow driver approximately 90 minutes to complete. The new app will show where they are and where they have most recently traveled,” MDOT SHA Administrator Gregory Slater said in a statement when STORM was launched.

Pulling location data transmitted over wireless networks, the tool offers a 30-minute history of where the trucks are covering.

In prior winters, Baltimore County and Howard County released tools to help improve communication during winter weather, but STORM is taking it to state roads across Maryland.