Syracuse, N.Y. – More than a third of Syracuse’s streets remained unplowed Tuesday afternoon as the city struggles to keep up with a massive snowstorm that started Monday night.
Syracuse city officials said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon that they did not have a clear timeline for when all the roads would be plowed. Officials later said they expected to have everything clear by Wednesday morning.
The storm has dumped as much as 20 inches of snow on parts of Onondaga County and another foot of snow could fall through Wednesday morning.
Syracuse is now looking to state Department of Transportation resources for support, Mayor Ben Walsh said at a news conference held at the city’s Department of Public Works.
The city has more than 30 vehicles plowing streets, Walsh said. That includes 17 big city snowplows, according to Department of Public Works Commissioner Jeremy Robinson. The city has also activated multiple small snowplows, and even attached a plow to a payloader.
The city’s plow drivers are working 12-hour shifts.
Robinson himself early Tuesday worked to clear streets in Strathmore in one of the smaller plows, the mayor said.
“Any city would struggle” with this storm, Walsh said. “The drivers we have out there are facing extreme conditions, and they are doing a very good job.”
The city’s website that tracks snow plowing shows scores of streets have not been plowed. The mayor said the map wasn’t accurate because the small plows don’t have the technology to update the map.
As of 4 p.m., 37 percent of the city’s streets remained unplowed, Robinson said.
Three young men help push a car out of a snow bank at Beet St. and Erie Blvd East. A strong Lake Effect Storm belted Central New York. In Eastwood in Syracuse has at least 10-12 inches of snow on the ground,Dec.30 2025. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comdennis nett | dnett@syracuse.com
Robinson said earlier Tuesday that 21 of the 58 plow routes in the city had been completed. The focus has been on the 17 high-traffic routes, which are all cleared, he explained.
Robinson said Monday that part of the issue with slow removal is that half of the 43 current drivers are new and have never plowed before. This means some drivers do not plow streets as quickly as experienced drivers.
As snow continues to fall, Robinson said his team will have to balance clearing new roads with maintaining key roads throughout the city.
Walsh said state DOT officials called his office Tuesday morning to offer help.
The state DOT told syracuse.com that it will assist in plowing these main roads to help the city:
Hiawatha Boulevard and Bear Street between Interstate 690 and Interstate 81Erie Boulevard East between Teall Avenue and Thompson Road Erie Boulevard West between West Genesee Street and Franklin StreetWest Genesse Street between Myrtle Street and Erie Boulevard WestNorth West Street from I-690 to Erie Boulevard West
The city put out more resources for this storm after many streets were unplowed Saturday from six inches of snow that fell on Friday night. The city’s DPW only had nine large plows on the road for that storm.
Walsh and Robinson were joined at the news conference by mayor-elect Sharon Owens, the incoming Police Chief Mark Rusin and the current Fire Chief Michael Monds.
The city officials offered some tips for residents:
Stay off roads unless absolutely necessaryClear areas around fire hydrantsClear paths leading to and around homes in case of emergency responsePull over early to accommodate emergency service vehiclesBe wary of snow covering gas ducts or other exhausts from your home to prevent gas buildupscraping cars off entirely before driving
Rusin also emphasized that Syracuse’s parking laws would continue to be enforced with tickets and tows despite the weather. He and Owens urged residents to park in driveways or lots when possible.
City officials gather inside the shed where snowplows are typically stored at the Department of Public Works Headquarters at 1200 Canal St on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 30, 2025 as the city battles a snowstorm. From left to right, incoming Mayor Sharon Owens, DPW Commissioner Jeremy Robinson, Mayor Ben Walsh, Fire Chief Michael Monds, and incoming Police Chief Mark Rusin.Finn Lincoln