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Minnesota snowstorm: Officials urge preparedness as 1st wave moves in
As the Twin Cities metro gets hit with round one of snow, officials were urging residents to think ahead on Tuesday. The second wave of snow is expected to bring heavier snow for the metro.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - Both Minneapolis and St. Paul have declared snow emergencies ahead of a high-impact, multi-day winter storm that could dump more than a foot in the Twin Cities and beyond.
St. Paul Snow Emergency
St. Paul "took extraordinary measures" to declare back-to-back snow emergencies starting Wednesday due to the forecasted three-day storm.
Parking restrictions for snow emergencies will begin Wednesday night. Vehicles on night plow routes will need to be moved for plowing starting at 9 p.m. Wednesday until 7 a.m. Thursday morning. Then, from 8 a.m. on Thursday until 5 p.m., cars will need to be moved off day plow routes. Night plow routes are marked with signs. Day plow routes are any street without a night plow sign. You can use this map to figure out what your street is.
The snow emergency process will re-start Thursday night, with the city clearing night plow routes again starting at 9 p.m. Thursday through 7 a.m. Friday. At 8 a.m. on Friday, crews will do day plow routes again until 5 p.m.
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Minnesota weather: Minneapolis, St. Paul officials provide update on winter storm prep
The Twin Cities metro is set to get another blast of winter weather this week, as an approaching storm brings the possibility of 14 to 18-plus inches of snow spread over multiple days.
"We are bracing for a historically large snowstorm which will impact all aspects of city operations for the next several days," said Mayor Melvin Carter. "We implore residents to limit travel and follow snow emergency guidelines to keep our streets safe and clear while our road crews dig us out."
The city has made eight ramps available for people to park during the snow emergency. Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m., vehicles may enter and park for free until Saturday morning at these city-owned ramps:
- Smith Ramp (145 Smith St.)
- Kellogg Underground Ramp (129 Kellogg Blvd.)
- Lawson Ramp (10 West 6th St.)
- Lowertown Ramp (316 Jackson St.)
- 7A Ramp (13 West Exchange St.)
- Robert Street Ramp (95 East 7th St.)
- Block 19 Ramp (145 East 7th St.)
- World Trade Center Ramp (477 Cedar St.)
Minneapolis Snow Emergency
Meanwhile, Minneapolis declared a snow emergency starting Wednesday at 9 p.m.
The parking timeline from Minneapolis is as follows:
- Starting at 4 p.m. today, you may move your vehicle off of Snow Emergency Routes and onto either side of streets that are not Snow Emergency Routes. Beginning 9 p.m., follow the standard Snow Emergency parking rules for Days 1, 2 and 3.
- 9 p.m. today, Feb. 22 to 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 23. (Day 1)Do not park on side of a Snow Emergency route until 8 a.m., or the street is fully plowed.
- 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 (Day 2) Do not park on the EVEN numbered side of a non-Snow Emergency route until 8 p.m., or that side of the street is fully plowed, or on EITHER side of a parkway until 8 p.m., or the parkway is fully plowed.
- 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24 (Day 3) Do not park on the ODD numbered side of a non-Snow Emergency route until 8 p.m., or that side of the street is fully plowed.
Minneapolis has also opened ramps where people can park for free during the winter storm. They are:
- Vineland Place Ramp at the Walker Art Center (727 Vineland Place)
- Minneapolis Farmers Market lot under I-94 (225 East Lyndale Ave. N)
- Basilica lot under I-94 (13 North 17th St.)
- Salvation Army Lot (601 North 4th Street)
- Lyn-Lake Lot (2940 Garfield Ave. S).
- Seven Points Parking Ramp at 1375 W. 31st St.,
- MoZaic Art Parking Ramp at 1340 Lagoon Ave.
In an update Tuesday evening, Minneapolis officials said the Basilica, Farmers Market, and Lyn-Lake lots were full. However, they were also making discounted parking available at Ramp A for just a dollar a day starting Tuesday night. However, normal event parking rates will be in effect Friday and Saturday evenings (4 p.m. until 8 p.m.), and Sunday evening (4 p.m. until 7 p.m.).