Narberth, Lower Merion Prepare Plows for Possible October Snow

After the National Weather Service first forecast Saturday night snow on Thursday, predictions have varied from different quarters, but public works crews for and are preparing for the worst.

By Friday afternoon, the NWS was predicting up to a half-inch of snow Saturday and another half-inch that night, with rain mixed in.

The Weather Channel's weather.com, meanwhile, called for three to five inches of accumulation. And Bala Cynwyd-based NBC Philadelphia was predicting one to two inches.

"We're ready," said Mike Beck, assistant director of public works for Lower Merion. "We have some trucks all prepared and snow equipment mounted—not our whole fleet, but we have enough to handle this storm if we get something. And we have a lot of salt left from last year."

Beck estimated 10 of the township's 28 plowing trucks would be outfitted for the weekend.

Typically, late October "is our time to go over everything and get (the vehicles) ready," Beck said. "Usually we don't gear up until Thanksgiving. Hopefully, we'll just get a dusting."

In much smaller Narberth, "we'll be as ready as we'll ever be," assistant borough manager Fred Hansell said. "They have one truck ready to go in the garage. It's got plows on and the spreader."

Narberth contracts with Lower Merion to pick up salt from its silo, Hansell said.