Lakeland Prepares for Potentially Historic Winter Storm

The City of Lakeland is bracing for what could become a historic winter storm as forecasts call for significant snowfall beginning Friday, January 23, and continuing through the weekend. Early projections show the potential for as much as 24 inches of snow—an amount that would be unprecedented for the region—though meteorologists caution that models will need additional time to fully refine the outlook.

City officials are nonetheless preparing for the worst. “We are keeping a close eye on this storm,” said Nick Pulido, Public Works Director for Lakeland. Should the forecast hold, Pulido says his team is ready to deploy the city’s snow and ice response plan. “We will apply a preventative anti-icing treatment (salt brine mix) if it appears that the precipitation will begin when the temperature is below freezing. If the precipitation begins above freezing, our anti-icing treatment will be washed away with the rain. In both cases, we will spread a salt/sand mix and plow the high priority roads once the snowfall begins,” he explained.

Pulido also noted that the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) will maintain major routes, including Highway 70, Highway 64, SR-385, and I-40, allowing Lakeland crews to focus on city-managed streets.

City Priorities and Snow Response Operations

Lakeland’s Snow and Ice Control Plan is designed to maintain safe vehicular and pedestrian movement on high-priority streets and parking lots. Operations will begin in the southern end of the city and move north until all designated areas have been treated.

Objectives of Lakeland’s Snow and Ice Plan

• High-priority routes will be sanded and salted within the first three hours of call-outs.
• Oak Seed Lane in front of Lakeland Elementary School will be sanded and salted by 8:30 a.m. on school days. If school is not in session, it will not be serviced.
• City Hall Parking Lot will be treated by 7:30 a.m. on weekdays following a snow or ice event.
• Senior Center I.H. Parking Lot will be sanded by 8:30 a.m. on weekdays and weekends after winter weather.
• Parks parking lots, including Windward Slopes and Zadie Kuehl, will be treated by 10:00 a.m. on weekdays following snow or ice.
• Snow and ice control measures will run daily from 5:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.
• Additional streets outside the high-priority network will be addressed as directed by the Public Works Director.

City officials encourage residents to monitor local weather updates, limit unnecessary travel, and prepare for potential disruptions as the weekend approaches.

The post Lakeland Prepares for Potentially Historic Winter Storm appeared first on Lakeland Currents.