Minneapolis, St. Paul declare snow emergencies, residents hurry to get vehicles off streets

By KSTP

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Click the video player above to view team coverage of the conditions in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have formally declared snow emergencies, as have many other cities across Minnesota.

Minneapolis has issued a three-day snow emergency, starting Wednesday, while St. Paul is going with back-to-back snow emergencies on Wednesday and Thursday.

In Minneapolis, the parking rules now shift to snow emergency rules. Winter parking restrictions will resume at 8 p.m. Friday. The Minneapolis snow emergency parking rules are as follows:

  • No parking on snow emergency routes from 9 p.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Thursday, or until streets are fully plowed.
  • No parking on the even-numbered side of non-snow emergency routes from 8 a.m. Thursday to 8 p.m. Thursday, or until streets are fully plowed.
  • No parking on the odd-numbered side of non-snow emergency routes from 8 a.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Friday, or until streets are fully plowed.
  • Winter parking restrictions resume at 8 p.m. Friday, meaning no parking on even-numbered sides of non-snow emergency routes.

St. Paul’s snow emergency parking rules are as follows:

  • No parking on any night plow routes starting at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
  • No parking on any day plow routes starting at 8 a.m. Thursday.
  • St. Paul is expected to issue a second snow emergency on Thursday, with no parking on night plow routes starting at 9 p.m. Thursday or on day plow routes starting at 8 a.m. Friday.

RELATED: Minneapolis and St. Paul leaders discuss winter storm preps; parking available for residents to keep streets clear

Amid the snow emergency declarations, Twin Cities residents are hurrying to get their vehicles off the streets so crews can plow.

Vehicles are parked along a street in Minneapolis on Feb. 22, 2023. (KSTP-TV)

Both cities have opened several parking areas to residents. Those locations can be found here.

Joe Paumen, Minneapolis’ director of transportation, maintenance and repair, says it’s the first time he can recall Public Works setting aside free parking, and he believes residents are taking advantage of it.

“We do know that they are filling up,” Paumen said.

“It’s a bit of a walk for me but it’s going to be worth it,” Robert Shar, one of the residents taking advantage of the Basilica parking space, told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. “I hope they do it more often.”

Many other cities have also issued snow emergencies. Click here to see the latest list.