Lower Merion Prepares 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  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 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."