With hints of snow in the forecast in the coming weeks, and Bellevue has ratcheted up its preparation.

This season is expected to be another La Nina winter – wetter and colder – similar to last year. Puget Sound residents were lucky last year, with only one significant snow storm, but this could be another big year.

Bellevue plows have already entered the foray, with several machines patrolling the high elevation areas Thursday night and Friday morning.

Bellevue, and many cities in the region, present a unique challenge in snow preparation. Bellevue is home to some very high elevations, and a number of the steepest streets in the state, said Tony Marcum, an operations manager with the Bellevue Utilities Department. Elevations in the city range from sea level, to 1,400 feet, requiring Bellevue to keep a variety of plans and equipment in its back pocket.

Marcum said the Bellevue philosophy is to make sure streets are ready before snow falls, so the clearing and clean up is easier.

“If there’s snow in the forecast, we’re locked and loaded,” said Marcum. “We’re very proactive, instead of reactive, and I think that’s what really helps.”

As winter has come closer, Bellevue held a series of training sessions for employees from different departments in the city. There these employees learned how to back utility workers in the event of a big storm.

Bellevue has 11 plows and a couple more anti-icing vehicles in its fleet. Some are specifically tailored to deal with high elevations, while others are meant to go on the main streets of town.

Marcum said the city’s plan is to make sure all main roads, and primary neighborhood routes are clear before going down individual side streets. Scouts will be in the field finding the areas that need the most attention and routing trucks that way.

State officials have also begun prepping for bad weather. The Washington State Department of Transportation is responsible for keeping the state’s highway system clear. Crews will be on the road ahead of storms pre-treating areas where ice is likely to form first, such as bridges and ramps, and monitoring changing conditions. WSDOT has snow plows stationed throughout Western Washington and on Stevens and Snoqualmie passes. Crews in Western Washington have access to more than 195,000 gallons of liquid deicer and a stockpile of nearly 27,000 tons of sand and road salt. Additional snow-fighting equipment, sand, road salt and liquid deicer are stationed on the mountain passes.

“We’re ready for it and we’ll be out on the road ready to plow where needed,” said Dave McCormick, WSDOT assistant regional administrator.