Mayor Jud Ashman is urging residents to be patient as the City of Gaithersburg adjusts its snow response strategy ahead of a high impact winter storm, emphasizing safety, effectiveness, and environmental concerns.
In a message shared on social media, Ashman said the city is altering how and when plows are deployed to better align with the forecast. The heaviest snowfall is expected from early Sunday morning through late Sunday afternoon, followed by sleet. Because of the expected sleet and prolonged cold, the city plans to allow snow to accumulate more than it typically would before plowing.
According to the mayor, this approach allows falling sleet to be absorbed into the snowpack rather than freezing directly onto bare pavement, which would create dangerously icy roads. Letting snow accumulate also allows plow operators and public safety personnel to travel more safely throughout the city, while reducing the amount of salt needed and limiting environmental impacts.
Ashman stressed that Public Works crews will still be out salting and plowing, but residents who are accustomed to rapid clearing should understand that the slower pace is intentional and strategic. He said the goal is to remove snow and sleet together, rather than clear snow only to have roads glaze over with ice.
City officials have also declared a snow emergency for Gaithersburg, effective from noon Saturday, January 24, 2026, through 7 AM Tuesday, January 27, 2026. The declaration, issued by Ashman and City Manager Tanisha Briley, activates the city’s emergency management plan and requires essential city employees to report to and remain at work.
During the snow emergency, vehicles must be removed from designated snow emergency routes, and parking violations may result in ticketing or towing. The city will strictly enforce posted snow parking restrictions. Officials are also reminding residents and businesses that sidewalks must be cleared of snow and ice within 12 hours after precipitation ends, and they are encouraging off street parking whenever possible to help crews clear roads more efficiently.
City leaders say the combination of heavy snow, sleet, and bitter cold makes flexibility critical, and residents should expect conditions to evolve throughout the storm as crews adapt to changing weather.
