How To Find Out When Your Street Will Be Plowed In Columbus

Updated: July 14, 2026

Snow may be beautiful if you’re cozy and inside, but if you are one of the unlucky Columbus residents who have to venture out in winter weather, you may be wondering when exactly the roads on your commute will be plowed.

The short version: to find out when your street will be plowed, open the city’s WarriorWatch map at warriorwatch.columbus.gov. It shows every Columbus street plowed in the last 72 hours, color-coded by how recently, and tells you whether yours is a Priority 1, 2, or 3 street. The map updates every 15 minutes.

How to see when your street was last plowed

The Department of Public Service operates an interactive map that shows snow and ice service activity for the past 72 hours around the city.

Not only can you see which areas have already been treated, but you can also find out what priority your street is. The map is updated every 15 minutes, giving you near real-time info to help you make the safest decisions when venturing out.

Columbus plows in priority order, so where your street falls in that ranking is the biggest factor in when it gets cleared:

Driving safely around the plows

If you have to head out, be sure to give the plows plenty of room to work. The plows are wide vehicles and can cross the centerline or shoulder, so don’t tailgate and do your best not to pass the plow. If you absolutely have to pass, ODOT recommends taking extreme caution and beware of the snow cloud produced by the plow.

If you’d like to take a look at the map to figure out the best route for your commute, please click here.

Tracking snowplows on the highways (I-70, I-71, and I-270)

WarriorWatch only covers city-maintained streets. If your commute runs on the interstates, those are ODOT’s responsibility, and ODOT gives you two ways to see what is happening. As of January 2026, most of ODOT’s plow fleet shows up live on Waze, so if you already navigate with it you will see plows on the map near you the same way you would see a reported hazard. ODOT also runs OHGO.com, its real-time traffic site, which maps the routes crews are treating along with crashes and closures. One difference worth knowing: WarriorWatch shows you where plows have already been, while Waze and OHGO show you where they are right now.

What do snow emergency levels mean?

Seeing plows on your street is one thing, but during significant winter weather, Franklin County may also declare a snow emergency. These alerts are issued by the county sheriff and are meant to give drivers a clearer picture of just how dangerous road conditions are.

According to the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness, Ohio uses three snow emergency levels:

• Level 1: Roads are hazardous with blowing or drifting snow and may be icy. Travel is still allowed, but drivers are urged to use caution.
• Level 2: Roads are hazardous and very icy. Travel should be limited to only what is necessary. If you can stay home, this is usually the level where it’s encouraged. Drivers should also check with their employer before heading out and use extreme caution if they must be on the roads.
• Level 3: All roadways are closed to non-emergency traffic. Driving during a Level 3 snow emergency is strongly discouraged unless absolutely necessary or in the case of a personal emergency, and motorists may be subject to arrest.

Even if your street has already been plowed, the current snow emergency level can help you decide whether it’s worth heading out at all.

You can check the current snow emergency level for Franklin County on the sheriff’s office website here.

Columbus snow plowing FAQ

How often is the WarriorWatch map updated?
Every 15 minutes. The plows carry GPS units that report their location every 15 seconds, and the public map redraws from that data on a 15-minute cycle.

Does Columbus plow residential side streets?
Yes, but they are the lowest priority. Crews clear Priority 1 arterial roads first, then Priority 2 collector streets, and get to Priority 3 local residential streets last. If your street still has snow while the main roads are clear, that is the priority system working as designed, not an oversight.

Can you really be arrested for driving during a Level 3 snow emergency?
Technically yes. A Level 3 closes all roads to non-emergency traffic, and Ohio’s official language says drivers may be subject to arrest. In practice it is rarely enforced, and the point is to keep non-essential drivers off the road so crews can work, but the legal authority is real, so treat a Level 3 as stay home unless it is an emergency.

Can I see ODOT plows on the freeways?
Yes. ODOT’s plows appear live on Waze and on OHGO.com, which cover the interstates and state routes that WarriorWatch does not.

Featured image courtesy of ODOT.