In Which Countries Snow Removal Is Worst: Systemic Causes and Consequences

The problem of inefficient snow removal, contrary to popular belief, is not limited to warm countries unexpectedly hit by snowstorms. Often, it is a systemic issue in states with regular and heavy snowfall, where there is a lack of adequate infrastructure, funding, logistics, or political will. The worst situations arise in countries where several factors combine: climate instability, economic difficulties, geographical complexity, and weak institutions.

1. Countries with Warm Climates Not Prepared for Snow

For these territories, snow is a rare anomaly, making the maintenance of costly infrastructure meaningless.

Georgia, Armenia, Greece (southern regions), Turkey (Istanbul):

Problem: Lack of specialized equipment, de-icing agents, and legally approved action protocols. During the 2022 snowstorm, Tbilisi and Istanbul were completely paralyzed for several days. Snow was removed manually, and municipal services and the army used ordinary front-end loaders and dump trucks not adapted for snow removal.

Example: In Istanbul in 2022, thousands of cars were blocked due to the snowstorm, flights were canceled, and the coast guard was used to evacuate people stuck in traffic jams on boats. The absence of studded tires among the population exacerbated the chaos.

2. Countries with Complex Terrain and Historical Construction

Even with resources, physical geography and planning make snow removal extremely difficult.

Afghanistan, Pakistan (mountainous regions), some countries of the Caucasus:

Problem: Mountain serpentine roads and narrow streets in historical settlements are inaccessible to standard snow removal equipment. Snow removal is often manual or not at all, leading to prolonged isolation of entire districts. These regions regularly suffer from avalanches blocking key transportation arteries for weeks.

Interesting fact: In remote areas of Afghanistan, national army units with engineering equipment are still sometimes used to clear roads after snowstorms and avalanches, but the process is extremely slow.

3. Countries with Chronic Economic and Infrastructure Problems

Even in cold climates, snow removal can be disastrously poor due to systemic crisis.

Ukraine (especially during periods of economic and political crises):

Problem: Critical wear and tear of municipal equipment (up to 80% of the fleet in some cities), chronic underfunding, decentralization without adequate resource provision, corruption in the procurement of de-icing agents and spare parts.

Example: In 2020-2021, after heavy snowstorms, Kiev experienced kilometers-long traffic jams, as the main load fell on a few working vehicles. De-icing agents were often purchased inefficiently or in insufficient quantities.

Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan:

Problem: City budgets do not provide for the purchase of modern equipment. Snow removal is often fragmentary, snow is piled up on sidewalks and shoulders, where it melts for weeks, turning into mud and ice.

4. Large Cities in Developing Countries with High Population Density

The problem is exacerbated by demographic pressure and weak urban planning.

India (Northern states: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh), Nepal (Kathmandu):

Problem: Narrow, chaotically built streets, lack of stormwater drainage, mixing of traffic flows (cars, rickshaws, pedestrians, animals). Even with some equipment, it is physically impossible to clear all streets promptly. Snow mixed with garbage and dirt lies for weeks.

Example: In January 2023, Kathmandu was paralyzed for several days due to a snowstorm and freezing rain, as Tribhuvan Airport was closed and movement in the city stopped. The cleanup was mainly carried out by local residents and soldiers using shovels.

5. Individual Cities in the USA with Poor Municipal Organization

Paradoxically, but in one of the most developed countries in the world, there are also "weak links."

USA: cities not prepared for anomalous snowstorms (Atlanta, Seattle, Portland):

Problem: In regions where snow falls rarely, it is economically unfeasible to maintain a large fleet of equipment. In the event of an anomalous snowstorm, the city is paralyzed within hours. Cultural factor: most residents do not have winter tires or chains, and driving in a snowstorm is not a common skill.

Notable example: "The 2014 Atlanta Snowstorm." About 5 cm of snow fell, leading to apocalyptic consequences: more than 10,000 traffic jams on the roads, people were stranded in cars for 12-24 hours, children had to be left overnight in schools. The main reason was the lack of preemptive measures (salting roads before the snowstorm) and the synchronization of actions of authorities, schools, and enterprises, which closed simultaneously, creating a traffic jam on the roads.

General Systemic Causes of Poor Snow Removal

Reactive rather than proactive approach: Services start acting after the snowstorm ends, not during it.

Lack of a single coordinating center: Fragmentation of actions of road, municipal services, and emergency teams.

Corruption and inefficient use of funds: Procurement of poor-quality de-icing agents, "non-existent" equipment.

Lack of environmental and infrastructure planning: There are no equipped snow storage facilities or snowmelt points, leading to snow dumps with de-icing agents and dirt right in the city limits, poisoning the soil and water.

Ignoring the "last mile": Main highways may be cleared, but yards, sidewalks, and public transport stops remain impassable.

Conclusion

The worst snow removal is not where there is a lot of snow, but where there is no system. This is an indicator not only of climatic conditions but also of the depth of systemic problems in management, economy, and urban planning. The consequences go far beyond domestic discomfort: they are millions in economic losses due to paralyzed transportation, an increase in injuries, environmental damage, and ultimately, a breakdown of public trust in the ability of authorities to ensure basic safety and the functioning of the city. A paralysis from a snowstorm is a clear diagnostic sign of institutional weakness of a state or municipality.
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