Anti-icing ops on the runway ahead of heavy snow is a double edge sword. Yes it can melt a light fall of snow but as more and more snow falls the deicer agent dilutes and you end up with the worse of all worlds, slush. Then you have to start sweeping. And when you do there are always people urging you to wait so they can get one more flight in/out, and then when you start the same people ask why you didn't start much earlier!!
Thing I learnt about snow clearing is you can never be right, and there are an amazing number of experts around, particularly from a nice warm office.
