How Often Should Your Driveway Be Plowed in a Storm?

3 min read · Thames Valley Snow, London, Ontario

There's no single answer to how often a driveway should be plowed, because it depends entirely on how the storm behaves. A fast, heavy dump of snow over a few hours calls for a very different approach than a slow, all-day flurry that adds up gradually. Most homeowners assume one visit per storm is standard, but that's not always the case once you look at how London winters actually play out.

For a typical single storm dropping five to ten centimetres over a few hours, one visit after the snow stops is usually enough. The crew clears the full accumulation in one pass and you're set until the next snowfall. This is the most common scenario and the one most seasonal contracts are built around.

Longer storms change the math. When snow keeps falling steadily for twelve hours or more, waiting until it fully stops can mean a driveway buried under twenty centimetres or more, which takes much longer to clear and is harder on both the equipment and your driveway surface. In these cases, a mid-storm visit followed by a final cleanup pass keeps things manageable and gets you a usable driveway sooner rather than later.

Wind matters too. Even after a storm technically ends, blowing snow can refill a driveway that was cleared an hour earlier, especially on open lots without windbreaks. Good snow removal companies watch conditions after the storm passes, not just during it, and will send a crew back out if drifting undoes their earlier work.

Thames Valley Snow builds its response plans around how each storm actually unfolds rather than a rigid one-visit-per-day rule, so London homeowners get a driveway that's actually usable, not just technically serviced. Understanding this ahead of time helps set realistic expectations for what a normal winter storm response looks like.

Return visits during long storms

A seasonal plan does not mean one visit per storm. When snow keeps falling, the crew comes back so the driveway does not get buried under 20 or 30 cm and packed down by tires.

Timing around your schedule

If you leave early for work, priority early-morning clearing ($125 per season) puts your driveway in the first part of the route after overnight snow. Shift workers and early commuters often find it is the add-on that makes the biggest difference.

After the storm ends

The last visit includes the windrow the city plow leaves at the end of the driveway. A timestamped photo is taken after every visit so you can see when the work was done.

Frequently asked questions

Will I be charged extra for return visits?

Not on a seasonal plan. Visits at 5 cm or more are included for the whole season.

What if I need to leave during the storm?

Text the team at (548) 888-8702. They will tell you where the crew is and what to expect.

What's included… and what's extra

A Thames Valley Snow seasonal residential plan starts from $650 for a standard driveway. It covers clearing the driveway every time snowfall reaches the trigger depth in your agreement, plus the windrow the city plow leaves at the end of the driveway. Larger driveways are priced on our snow removal prices page.

Popular add-ons, priced per season: walkway and steps $150–175, salting $175, priority service $125, pet-safe salt $120, driveway extension $95 and city sidewalk clearing $90. Add only what your property needs; everything is listed on the quote so there are no surprises. Get your fixed price or call or text (548) 888-8702.