Exeter roads to be gritted daily as first major winter cold snap hits Devon

Devon’s gritting fleet was deployed for the first time this season on Sunday night (16 November) as temperatures fell close to freezing, with Exeter’s priority roads and cycle routes now set for regular treatment throughout the week.

Gritters were sent out from 8pm to higher ground on Dartmoor and Exmoor after road surface temperatures dropped to around zero.

A Yellow Cold-Health Alert from the UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office is in place for the South West until Saturday, with warnings that icy patches could form following heavy rain from Storm Claudia.

The Met Office says the UK is entering its first significant “cold snap” of the winter, as Arctic air moves south. Cold but clear conditions will dominate early in the week, with stronger northerly winds making temperatures feel even lower by Wednesday.

Forecasters say widespread frost is likely later in the week, and are urging people to stay updated as warnings may change.

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Exeter plays a key role in the county’s preparations. Devon’s Network Operations Control Centre, based in the city, monitors road conditions 24 hours a day using CCTV, traffic information and data from 38 ice-detector weather stations across the county. 

Decisions on when to send gritters out are made in real time, with around 14 miles of Exeter’s busiest cycle routes also scheduled for regular gritting.

Devon County Council says winter preparations began months ago. Depots are stocked with nearly 24,000 tonnes of salt, and five of the council’s frontline gritting lorries have been replaced with new models fitted with touchscreen controls to allow safer and more accurate spreading. 

Last winter, around 8,000 tonnes of salt were used on Devon’s roads, below the long-term average but noticeably higher than the previous year.

Councillor Dan Thomas, Cabinet Member for Highways, reminded Exeter residents to give gritters plenty of room if they meet one on the roads. 

He said the vehicles are often operating in the early hours and in difficult conditions, and warned that poor parking in narrow streets can prevent them from treating certain areas. 

Simon Kane, Contract Manager for Devon Highways, added that drivers are often dealing with road maintenance and flooding issues during the day before heading back out at night, and urged people to be patient around the large vehicles.

Exeter communities are also preparing for the colder spell. The county’s network of volunteer snow wardens (around 325 in total) are on standby to treat local priority routes in severe weather. More than 3,500 grit bins are available across Devon, and residents can report empty bins through the council’s “Report It” service online.

With temperatures expected to fall further mid-week, the Met Office says this could be the coldest period so far this winter, with wind chill making conditions feel particularly sharp. 

Updates will be shared on Devon County Council’s winter travel webpages.