When a Snow Emergency is declared, residents are asked to follow specific parking guidelines to allow for efficient snow removal operations. Vehicles in violation of parking restrictions will be ticketed and towed.
UPDATE 3/27 12:30 p.m.:
Public Works crews are cleaning up and salting arterial streets and residential hills throughout the city. This afternoon, additional crews are doing clean up, push backs, and salting as needed on residential streets.
UPDATE 3/26 5:30 p.m.:
Public Works crews are continuing to plow and salt arterial and collector streets, bridge decks, and residential hills throughout the city. The colder road temperatures and transition from rain to snow this morning were the recipe for ice. Tonight and into tomorrow morning, crews are focusing on removing and preventing the build up of ice on the main roadways.
Tomorrow, crews will be doing clean up efforts throughout the city, including addressing residential streets.
Normal parking rules apply.
UPDATE 3/26 9:30 a.m.:
Public Works crews are currently plowing and salting arterial and collector streets and bridge decks. Overnight crews completed the center cuts on all residential streets, clearing the drive lanes.
Today's forecast includes snow accumulation of 2-5 inches throughout the day, with a rapid snow fall rate of a half inch to inch per hour possible. Temperatures are dropping all day to mid to high teens overnight.
UPDATE 3/25 4:30 p.m.:
Crews will continue to plow center cuts on residential streets throughout the evening. They are monitoring the arterial streets and bridge decks and will plow and apply salt as needed. As temperatures drop, expect refreeze on the streets tonight and drive with caution.
UPDATE 3/25 9:30 a.m.:
Saint Paul had additional crews plowing and salting arterial streets and bridge decks last night and early this morning. Public Works currently has more than 35 crews that are plowing and salting arterial streets. This morning, once the arterial streets are safe and passable, crews will be transitioning to residential streets to do "center cuts" and salt where needed. We expect crews to be addressing residential streets today, tonight, and tomorrow.
Center cuts are a snow plowing technique in which crews only plow in the center drive lanes between parked cars. This allows people to drive more easily on residential streets to access the main arterial streets. Residents can expect slushy snow and windrows in and along the parking lanes of residential streets. Some of these windrows may freeze overnight.
With this wet, heavy snow, and the forecast of freezing rain tonight, crews are plowing to the curbs where they can, focusing on the corners at intersections to open up catch basins (storm drains) and prevent flooding. Saint Paul encourages residents to help keep storm drains clear from snow and debris to help proper drainage and avoid water from pooling on the streets.
Crews are also out plowing bike trails, bike lanes and bridge sidewalks today.
UPDATE 3/24 at 8:30 p.m.:
Public Works has additional evening crews currently salting and plowing the minimal snow accumulation on arterial and collector streets and bridge decks overnight and into early tomorrow morning.
According to the National Weather Service, the forecast overnight has heavy, wet snow transitioning into rain in the early morning.
UPDATE 3/24 at 12 noon:
Public Works has additional crews currently salting arterial and collector streets and bridge decks. The accumulation on the roadway has been minimal so far, but we expect that to change in the coming hours with the snow.
We have additional staff scheduled to come in early tonight and throughout the evening to plow and treat the arterial streets as it continues to snow.
We are closely monitoring the storm. The forecast indicates conditions will worsen throughout the day with wet, heavy snow accumulation of 1-2" per hour and gusty winds and blowing snow in the later afternoon and evening. The snow is forecast to change to rain by Monday.
With the heavy, wet snow turning to rain on Monday, Saint Paul encourages residents to help keep storm drains clear from snow and debris to help proper drainage and avoid pooling on the streets.
UPDATE 3/23:
Public Works crews continue to check and address any issues on Saint Paul streets today. Additional crews are coming in tonight, Saturday, March 23 and through all day Sunday to plow and salt arterial and collector streets as snow is falling and starts to accumulate on the roadways.
UPDATE 3/22:
Saint Paul received about two inches with the Thursday, March 21 storm. The anti-icing treatments were very successful with minimal accumulation on the roadway. Today, March 22, crews were plowing and treating arterial streets, plowing center cuts and/or salting on residential streets where necessary. Crews will continue to salt and plow streets where needed tonight and Saturday during the day.
UPDATE 3/21:
Saint Paul Public Works crews have completed anti-icing all the arterial and collector streets with a salt brine solution. Today, March 21, crews are anti-icing residential hills and curves throughout the city. If you see white parallel lines on the streets, this is the salt solution that was put down.
As snow starts to accumulate crews will be plowing and treating arterial streets tonight and into Friday morning. On Friday, March 22, once arterial and collector streets are plowed and the drive lanes are in good condition crews will begin plowing "center cuts" on residential streets. They will continue to plow "center cuts" on residential streets Saturday, March 23 and into Sunday, March 24.
Center cuts are a snow plowing technique in which crews only plow in the center drive lanes between parked cars. This allows people to drive more easily on residential streets to access the main arterial streets. Residents can expect snow and windrows in and along the parking lanes of residential streets.
Staff are monitoring weather and road conditions throughout this multi-day winter storm. According to the National Weather Service, the forecast for storm #1 indicates snow accumulation of 2-5 inches in the Twin Cities on Thursday, March 21 into Friday, March 22. Starting on Sunday, March 24, a second more significant winter storm (storm #2) could bring more than 6 inches of snow, sleet, and freezing rain and strong winds. Public Works will adjust plowing operations accordingly.
Xcel Energy is preparing for two rounds of snow forecasted to blanket Minnesota over the coming days, with crews ready to safely restore any outages of electric or natural gas service as quickly as possible.
Xcel Energy maintains a diverse energy mix of wind, solar, nuclear, natural gas and coal sources to provide customers with the safe and reliable energy they depend on even through inclement weather. Weather forecasts anticipate the first of two snowfalls on Thursday and the second, larger one to follow on Sunday. Xcel Energy is tracking these forecasts and will plan accordingly to address any outages that result, responding to the largest outages first to quickly get the largest number of customers back online as soon as possible.
Customers can access the most recent updates about an outage using the My Xcel Energy mobile app or visiting the Xcel Energy outage map, which displays the number of customers out and the anticipated restoration time if available.
Customers can help Xcel Energy get a jump on power restoration by reporting outages. To report an outage:
Sign up to receive Saint Paul Snow Emergency text or email alerts (available in English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali).
Follow updates on social media or call 651-266-PLOW for recorded status messages.
Downtown streets are all Night Plow Routes. Do not park on downtown streets after 9 p.m. on the first night of when a Snow Emergency is declared.
Do you park your car on the street in Saint Paul? Watch this video to learn about the City's Snow Emergency parking rules. Know when and where you need to move your car when a Snow Emergency is declared so you don't get ticketed or towed.
The Snow Emergency brochure is also available in 7 different languages.
This brochure is a PDF, if you would like copies mailed to you, please email publicworksinfo@stpaul.gov.
Watch a fun video with Saint Paul Mayor Carter and Minneapolis Mayor Frey as they remind people – on both sides of the Mississippi River – to download the cities free winter snow parking apps.
Last Edited: April 6, 2024