Saint Paul, MN (February 21, 2023) – Today, Mayor Carter announced that the City of Saint Paul is taking extraordinary measures to declare back-to-back Snow Emergencies early due to the forecast three-day winter storm.

The National Weather Service has declared a winter storm warning beginning this afternoon and continuing through Thursday. Parts of the Twin Cities, including Saint Paul, could see sustained winds and up to 25 inches of snow. This major three-day winter storm is forecast to have the heaviest band of snow on Wednesday night through Thursday.

“We are bracing for a historically large snowstorm which will impact all aspects of city operations for the next several days,” said Mayor 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.”

Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) will adjust its services and hours open to the public this week. On Wednesday, February 22, Arlington Hills, Rondo, Sun Ray, and Highland Park libraries will be open from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Rice Street and George Latimer Central libraries will be open 12 p.m.-5:30 p.m. On Thursday, February 23, all library locations will be closed. Visit the SPPL website at www.SPPL.org and social channels for updates.

Saint Paul Parks and Recreation will also adjust its services and hours to be available for youth and families. As decisions on closures, cancellations, or programming changes are made, updates will be posted on Winter Weather Updates page and participants will be contacted directly.

City leaders strongly encourage all residents to be prepared for difficult travel conditions and plan accordingly:  
 

  • Check in with neighbors, friends, and family members to make sure they are aware and taking precautions for the snowstorm this week, including shoveling sidewalks and moving vehicles according to the snow emergency parking rules.
  • Limit non-essential travel whenever possible.
  • Work with neighbors and family members to find off-street parking options, such as using available driveway spaces or temporarily moving your vehicle to a downtown parking ramp.
  • Know when and where to move your cars off the street when the city declares a Snow Emergency. You can use the Snow Emergency parking map at www.stpaul.gov/snowemergencyparkingmap.
  • Make sure you have essential supplies, including food and medicines, if you are not able to leave your home.
  • Work from home if that is an option for you and your family.

Other Winter Storm Changes

  • The City of Saint Paul is opening eight ramps for free parking during this winter storm. Beginning Wednesday at 5 p.m., residents may enter and park their vehicles until Saturday morning at no cost at these city-owned ramps:
     
    • Smith Ramp (145 Smith Street)
    • Kellogg Underground Ramp (129 Kellogg Boulevard)

    • Lawson Ramp (11 West 5th Street)

    • Lowertown Ramp (316 Jackson Street)
    • 7A Ramp (13 West Exchange Street)
    • Robert Street Ramp (95 East 7th Street)
    • Block 19 Ramp (145 East 7th Street)
    • World Trade Center Ramp (477 Cedar Street)

    • Wellstone Parking Ramp (179 Robie Street) Not city-owned, but free parking is available starting Wednesday (2/22) at 1 p.m. through Friday morning (2/24)

  • Recycling or garbage collection days are suspended Thursday and Friday; do not put any carts in the street. You can check to see if there are any other collection delays at www.stpaul.gov/garbage or www.stpaul.gov/recycle.
     
  • All Saint Paul Public Schools will hold an e-learning day Wednesday and Thursday, and have a snow day on Friday, due to the weather. For more information, visit www.SPPS.org.

Snow Operations Plan

Saint Paul Public Works pretreated and plowed arterial (main) streets Monday, and crews will continue pretreating streets today. Plowing the arterial streets will begin as soon as snow starts to accumulate on the roadways and will continue throughout the snowstorm.

“By taking the extraordinary step of declaring back-to-back Snow Emergencies, it keeps our primary plowing efforts focused on the arterial and collector streets to keep them safe and passible for emergency vehicles,” said Sean Kershaw, Director of Public Works. “This allows us a chance to try to plow as many residential streets as early as possible. We will not get all residential streets plowed during the first Snow Emergency because we will need to continuously plow the arterial and collector streets as the snow continues to fall.”

To ensure emergency vehicles have access across the City at all times, Saint Paul Public Works stays in regular communications with Saint Paul Fire Department, Saint Paul Police Department, and Saint Paul Public School District to monitor and address problem areas.

Since January 23, Public Works has had up to four crews doing snow removal efforts on some of the narrowest residential streets throughout the City using heavy equipment, including three graders, to break up the ice pack and widen the streets where possible. Last week, Public Works completed work on all 100 residential street segments identified by Saint Paul Fire Department and Saint Paul Public School District to provide safe passage for emergency vehicles and school buses.

This will be the sixth and seventh Snow Emergencies for the winter season. The last snow emergency was declared on January 19.

BACK-TO-BACK SNOW EMERGENCIES SCHEDULE

Because snow is forecast to fall continuously over the three-day snowstorm, several plow crews must remain plowing arterial and collector streets during the day to keep them safe and passible. Public Works will divide plowing efforts between Day Plow Routes and arterial streets. Crews will plow as many Day Plow Routes as possible but WILL NOT complete all of the routes.

During the first Snow Emergency, crews will plow as many routes as possible to keep them accessible for emergency vehicles. Residents must park vehicles according to the Snow Emergency rules, regardless if a plow has come down their street yet or not. To check the current Snow Emergency status and where to park, visit www.stpaul.gov/snowemergencyparkingmap.

During the second Snow Emergency, crews will plow all routes. Please be patient as it is likely to take longer than expected. Residents must continue to park vehicles according to the Snow Emergency parking rules.

FIRST SNOW EMERGENCY

  • WEDNESDAY 2/22: FIRST Snow Emergency in effect from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. with Night Plow Routes
    • Residents, businesses, and visitors must move all cars off the Night Plow Routes, including all downtown streets and streets with signs posted “Night Plow Route” or “Night Plow Route This Side of Street.”
    • Follow all posted “no parking” signs. Do not park on NIGHT PLOW ROUTES.
    • Ticketing and towing operations will be in effect for all Night Plow Routes from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
    • Crews may not complete all Night Plow Routes with this first Snow Emergency
       
  • THURSDAY 2/23: Day Plow Routes will be plowed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Residents, businesses, and visitors must move all cars off the Day Plow Routes.
    • Day Plow Routes are not marked by signs. Day Plow Routes are east-west residential streets and one side of the north-south residential streets. Do not park on DAY PLOW ROUTES.
    • Ticketing and towing operations will be in effect for all Day Plow Routes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Because of the continuous snowfall, crews will also be plowing arterial and collector streets; Crews will not complete all Day Plow Routes before they need to shift to the Second Snow Emergency at 9 p.m.

SECOND SNOW EMERGENCY

  • THURSDAY 2/23: SECOND Snow Emergency in effect from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. with Night Plow Routes
    • Residents, businesses, and visitors must move all cars off the Night Plow Routes, including all downtown streets and streets with signs posted “Night Plow Route” or “Night Plow Route This Side of Street.”
    • Follow all posted “no parking” signs. Do not park on NIGHT PLOW ROUTES.
    • Ticketing and towing operations will be in effect for all Night Plow Routes from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
       
  • FRIDAY 2/24: Day Plow Routes will be plowed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Residents, businesses, and visitors must move all cars off the Day Plow Routes.
    • Day Plow Routes are not marked by signs. Day Plow Routes are east-west residential streets and one side of the north-south residential streets. Do not park on DAY PLOW ROUTES.
    • Ticketing and towing operations will be in effect for all Day Plow Routes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WEEKEND CLEAN UP

  • SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: Snow Emergency continues with plowing Day Plow Routes
    • Public Works will continue to plow DAY PLOW ROUTES that were not completed on Friday. Do not park on Day Plow Routes that have not been plowed. Follow all posted “No Parking” signs.
    • Ticketing and towing operations will be in effect for clean up phase. Vehicles that have not moved at all for either of the Snow Emergencies can be ticketed and towed.

This schedule is weather permitting and subject to change. For more information about Saint Paul snow operations and plowing updates, visit www.stpaul.gov/snow.

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Last Edited: February 22, 2023