City of Federal Way Public Works crews are working to ensure Federal Way streets are as safe and clear as possible during this week’s winter weather blast.

The city had four trucks out all night on Dec. 21 de-icing roads, according to Public Works Director EJ Walsh, who noted that operations went smoothly.

“All of the main roads, arterials, collectors, and major neighborhood roads are in good shape,” Walsh said in a memo to the mayor. Neighborhood side streets are in varying condition, however crews are limited in what they can do to clear those roads, he added.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a winter storm warning on Thursday afternoon to most of Western Washington, including Federal Way. The warning is in effect from 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23.

People should expect heavy, mixed precipitation expected with snow accumulations up to two inches and ice accumulations up to 1/4 inch. NWS cautions people of slippery road conditions and urges people who are traveling to keep an extra flashlight, food and water in their vehicles in case of emergencies.

Temperatures are too cold to do much right now because as crews salt the roads, the water is re-freezing to the road, Walsh said on Dec. 22.

Public Works decided to pulled the trucks back to the yard to reset and refill before heading back out at a later time on Thursday. Thursday night’s weather reports show frigid temperatures with possible snowfall before transitioning to freezing rain. From Friday onward, weather reports show temperatures rising which should help clear ice from roadways.

For the latest road conditions in Washington, call 511.