The Importance of Snow Fences and Winter Safety

While everyone appreciates the pristine beauty of newly fallen snow, no one can blame the lack of enthusiasm among those charged with managing its accumulation. Blowing and drifting snow make roadways and railways hazardous, with poor visibility and unpredictable travel conditions.

Snow removal is expensive. Recent data suggests that it costs the United States $4 billion per year. Well-positioned snow fences reduce the amount of snow that must be removed from city streets, interstate highways, and airport runways. With less snow to remove, roads, airports, and railways become accessible faster.

What Are Snow Fences?

Snow fences are structures that control where snow accumulates by disrupting air currents that carry the snow along the ground. They are used to direct snow away from roadways and railways. Construction sites use them to section off areas for easier access. Snow fences are also installed to prevent flooding when snow melts.

Snow fences may be temporary or permanent. They may be made from plastic, wood, or living trees or shrubs. Temporary snow fences are often made of plastic webbing attached to metal stakes and stand about four feet high. Permanent fencing may use wood with plastic coverings and stand about six feet tall.

Live snow fencing uses trees, shrubs, and other vegetation to create turbulence, causing the snow to fall. Live fencing is often found on farms, ski resorts, and rural areas, providing an aesthetically pleasing structure.

Where Can You Find Snow Fences?

Snow fences appear along roadways and railroad tracks. They control snow accumulation on farms and ski resorts. They can even be found on golf courses, construction sites, schools and universities.

• Roads and Railways. Snow fences reduce drifting snow that can block roads and railway tracks, making travel safer and reducing the cost of snow removal.
• Farms. Farmers have used snow fences for decades, beginning with live fencing. Farmers plant trees as windbreaks to protect crops from dust, snow, and sand. They also use them to create water reservoirs as the snow melts.
• Ski Resorts. Ski resorts use snow fencing to reduce uncontrolled snow accumulations that lead to avalanches. Strategically placed, they can help resorts maximize snowfall for improved skiing.
• Construction Sites. While construction may slow during winter months, it doesn't stop. Snow fences keep snow from accumulating around equipment and access roads. They can prevent flooding during the spring when snow melts.
• Schools and Universities. College campuses deploy snow fencing to keep snow off of sidewalks and common areas, making walkways safer for students and faculty while reducing the cost of snow removal.
• Golf Courses. Maintaining golf courses during winter months means protecting the ground from melting snow. Snow fences help ground crews direct snow to safe areas.

Properly placed, snow fences can provide protection for thousands of feet.

Why Use Snow Fences?

Snow fences make travel less hazardous and snow removal less costly. They can reduce erosion, protect the environment, and extend infrastructure usability.

Environment

High winds can move soil, destroy vegetation, and ruin crops. Snow fences disrupt wind currents, reducing wind speed and the erosion they cause. Melting snow can cause water erosion if not controlled. Snow fences can be placed in locations that channel the water to rivers and lakes, where it does less damage.

Infrastructure

Snow runoff also damages the pavement. The freezing and thawing of road surfaces can cause pavement to buckle and make roads impassable. Snow fences can reduce snow buildup and subsequent runoff.

Accessibility

Placing snow fences upwind from a road interrupts the wind flow, forcing snow to remain behind the fence. It no longer builds up on roads, improving driving conditions. Doing the same near railroad tracks keeps snow from drifting, causing accidents and slowing travel.

Snow fences on construction sites and college campuses improve accessibility for students and construction workers. Surfaces are less hazardous, which means fewer slips and falls.

Snow Management

With snow fences, less snow accumulates on roads, sidewalks, parking lots, and runways, lowering snow removal costs. Cities spend less on road salt, snow plows, and labor. Unexpected winter storms can significantly impact a maintenance budget.

Safety

Less snow on the road and fewer snow drifts improves driver visibility. Keeping snow off walkways makes them safer for people to use. Placing them at work sites helps maintain a safer environment with less chance of slipping on a slick surface or areas flooded with snow runoff. 

What Type of Snow Fences Are There?

While living snow fences are an environmentally friendly choice, they are also permanent. Many applications require temporary fencing that can be removed when the snow melts. Most snow fences are made from wood or plastic. Plastic fences are lighter and easier to install and store, while wood fencing is more aesthetically pleasing and offers a more permanent solution.

Before deciding on fencing, consider the application. Do you need a temporary solution? Is appearance important? Where will the fence be located?

• Durability. Wood snow fences can last longer when properly maintained. Plastic fencing's durability depends on deployment and handling, and frequent handling can shorten its lifespan.
• Installation. Plastic fences are lighter and easier to install than wood fences, making them a preferred choice for temporary use.
• Appearance. Wood blends well with the natural landscape and can provide a sound barrier that plastic fencing cannot.
• Maintenance. Plastic fencing is easier to maintain, requiring little more than cleaning. Wood fences will require sealing to prevent decay. Stained wood will need periodic restaining.

How Do Snow Fences Work?

Snow fences disrupt the wind's speed, causing snow to be deposited downwind along the fence line. They reduce wind speed but do not stop it. Fencing should be about 50% open and 50% closed to allow some wind to pass through, giving it the flexibility to withstand high winds.

Once the wind slows, the snow is deposited where the wind speed is slowest. The reduced speed and corresponding snow accumulation continue for about 10 to 12 times the height of the fence. For example, a four-foot fence would protect an area up to 40 or 48 feet.

As the snow accumulates, a recirculation zone forms, adding to the snow being deposited. The fencing height should reflect the expected snow drifts. The fencing will no longer work if the snow exceeds the fence height.

How to Install a Snow Fence

Whether using permanent or temporary fencing, install snow fencing before the ground freezes. Placing fence posts in frozen soil is difficult, if not impossible. Four-foot snow fences should be placed 40 to 48 feet from the area to be protected, and a six-foot fence should be placed 60 to 72 feet.

Dimensions

Deciding on the fence height depends on wind speed. Winds below 20 mph deposit 90% of blown snow below four feet, and with winds below 45 mph, 70% of the snow will remain below four feet. The fence length must be at least 25 times its height to prevent the wind from wrapping around the fence to its center, reducing its effectiveness.

Fence Posts

One-third of the fence post, or at least two feet, should be below ground to ensure it can withstand snow drifts. In addition, add 10% to 15% of the fencing height to the post height to allow a gap between the fence and the ground to prevent it from becoming buried. For example, a four-foot fence would require a six-foot post plus another five to six inches for the bottom gap or a 6.5-foot post.

Using a post-hole digger, create holes deep enough to bury one-third of the post height. The distance between the holes depends on the fence height and wind speed. For example, place steel T-posts eight feet apart for a four-foot fence or 4.5 feet for a six-foot fence. Wood post spacing depends on the wood and the circumference of the post.

Fencing

If using plastic fencing, pull the fencing taut and secure it to the posts with cable ties. The ties should be spaced about every six inches along the height of the post. For wood fencing, use cable ties, wire, or nails to attach it to the post at six-inch intervals.

How to Remove a Snow Fence

The following steps outline how to remove a snow fence.

1. Remove any guy wires or added support attached to the snow fence.
2. Pull out the stakes or posts securing the fence and place them on the ground. A post-puller can make the removal easier.
3. Check for damage and make repairs.
4. Flatten the fencing material, removing any wrinkles or bends.
5. Roll up the fencing, including the post, if possible.
6. Store the snow fence in a protected area.

Protecting Construction Sites

Snow fence installation around construction sites protects equipment and workers from adverse conditions. Whether wood or plastic snow fences, construction crews can manage snow accumulation and reduce the chance of weather-related accidents. They also keep equipment accessible. Work doesn't have to stop until the snow melts and no-one has to spend unnecessary time shoveling snow.

Snow fences not only control snow drifts but also control flooding from snow runoff. Well-positioned snow fences can divert melting snow to prevent unwanted flooding. When properly installed and stored, snow fences can help keep roads and railways safe for years. Learn more about safety in construction zones on or near roads by reading our article with 10 actionable tips on how to protect drivers and workers.