Mayor Owens Issues Snow Safety Alert as Winter Storm Approach

Syracuse Mayor Sharon F. Owens has issued a snow safety alert as a significant winter storm is expected beginning Sunday, January 25 bringing extreme cold, and dangerous wind chills. Forecasts call for 12 to 18 inches of snow between Sunday and Monday, with wind chill temperatures ranging from 15 to 25 degrees below zero. The Department of Public Works advises that Monday's commute may be affected by the approaching storm and requests residents' patience as crews work diligently to clear the roadways.

"This storm will bring extreme cold and heavy snow in a short period of time," said Mayor Owens. "Our DPW crews will be working around the clock to make sure roadways remain clear and safe for travel. We ask residents to take this storm seriously, plan ahead and limit travel, when possible, so everyone stays safe."

The City's Snow Safety Alert advises drivers to be prepared for hazardous road conditions, reminds residents to obey odd-even parking regulations, and urges property owners to clear their sidewalks and around fire hydrants. Information on snow safety in the City of Syracuse is available at syr.gov/winter. Residents are encouraged to use the City's live Snow Plow Map to gauge real-time road conditions throughout the event to make informed decisions before venturing into snowy conditions.

What Residents Should Know

Plows prioritize clearing primary and service roads to ensure accessibility for emergency services, focusing on high-volume roadways, emergency routes, hills, and major destinations. Neighborhood side streets are plowed once major routes are clear and snowfall has subsided. In Central New York, city, county, and state agencies work together to maintain highways and service roads. For more information before venturing into snowy weather, residents can visit syr.gov/winter.

What Residents Should Do

Property owners should clear snow from sidewalks on their properties and around fire hydrants. Keeping sidewalks as clear as possible during and after the storm helps to keep pedestrians from walking in roads with vehicle traffic.

The Syracuse Fire Department asks residents to clear a three-foot area around and a path to fire hydrants near their property. The City's Sidewalk Snow Removal program will be in effect. Residents can view and download the map of sidewalks that will be cleared by the City in the Sidewalk Snow Removal section of the Snow Safety page. Even in these areas, residents are still responsible for keeping their sidewalks clear.

Residents should observe alternate side parking rules and park cars off-street whenever possible. DPW plows need to be able to access streets to clear them. Syracuse Police will be ticketing and towing vehicles that are illegally parked.

The City has identified priority streets for focused parking enforcement during snow events. These streets were selected using city data, including the percentage of multi-family dwellings, the width of the street, and other elements contributing to increases in on-street parking. The list also includes streets known to be challenging for plow drivers:

Northeast

• 100 & 300 blocks of Collingwood Ave.
• 100 block of Durston Ave.
• 100 block of Jasper St.
• 100 block of Mildred Ave.
• 200 block of Nichols Ave.
• 100 block of Paul Ave.
• 100 block of Peck Ave.

Southeast

• 500 block of Clarendon St.
• 100 block of Redfield Pl.
• 200 block of Robert Dr.
• 200 & 300 blocks of Roosevelt Ave.
• 800 Sumner Ave.

Northwest

• 300 block of Apple St.
• 200 block of Bryant Ave.
• 100 block of Steuben St.
• 200 block of Tennyson Ave.

Southwest

• 100 block of Belle Ave.
• 100 & 200 blocks of Calthrop Ave.
• 100 block of Fernwood Ave.
• 100 block of Matson Ave.
• 300 Newell St.
• 100 block of Ostrander Ave.
• 100 block of Parkside Ave.
• 100 block of Parkway Dr.
• 100 & 200 blocks of Reed Ave.
• 200 block of Reed Ave.

Residents are advised that seasonal odd-even parking restrictions will be enforced on certain downtown blocks as well. The City has posted signage marking the parking changes and listing the hours for alternate parking.

Restrictions are in place in the following areas:

• 100 & 200 blocks Erie Blvd. E.
• 100 & 200 blocks E. Water St.
• 100 & 200 blocks S. Warren St.
• 300 & 400 blocks S. Warren St.
• 300 block of Montgomery St.
• 100 & 200 blocks Madison St.
• 100 & 200 blocks E. Jefferson St.
• 100 block W. Jefferson St.

Registered vehicle owners found in violation of the restrictions will be subject to ticketing and towing. For more information on Downtown Syracuse parking options, including options for overnight parking, please see the Downtown Parking brochure or contact the Downtown Committee at 315-422-8284 or email them at [email protected].

City residents are encouraged to submit snow related concerns and requests to Cityline using the SYRCityline app or by calling 315-448-CITY (2489). For all emergencies, the public should call 9-1-1.

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Related Information

• Office of Communications