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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Snow plows were out in full force across Colorado Springs Thursday, even though there was no snow on the streets.

Before the first snow storm hits, nearly 50 snow plows drove their assigned routes to check out road conditions and make sure all equipment is working properly.

"We have a lot of new people so we're having them check out their new routes," Chad Simpson, a snow plow equipment operator, said. "We're also getting familiar with manholes, any obstacles in the way like curbs, gutters, islands, stuff like that."

The dry runs also alert other drivers that they will soon have to share the road with snow plows.

"These plows don't exactly stop on a dime, " Simpson said. "People need to kind of think about that when they pull out in front of somebody. If it is slick out, it is slick for us, too."

The city wants residents to know that the snow plow crews are not preparing for an imminent snow event, but are making seasonal preparations to be ready when they are needed.