Everything You Need to Know About Columbus Ohio Snow Emergency
If you live in Columbus, you’re used to the weather changing at the drop of a hat. But sometimes, it changes so fast that we must issue Ohio Snow Emergency to keep the roads safe and clear. Keep reading if you’re wondering how to stay safe and informed during these snow emergencies! This is all you need to know about Columbus snow emergencies: how to get alerts, when to use your parking pass, and much more!
Important Phone Numbers
What is a snow emergency? A snow emergency is an order for most vehicles (except those with accessibility plates) and pedestrians to be off the road by 2 AM. The order usually lasts 12 hours, from 6 AM-6 PM. In emergencies greater than eight inches of snow accumulation or 24 hours, Mayor Ginther has the power to continue the ban past 6 PM. Vehicles will not be permitted on sidewalks if more than four inches of snow are on the ground.
Shovelling or ploughing any public street, alley, sidewalk, crosswalk, or parking lot entrance/exit ramp leading onto/off any public street in the city is illegal. During declared snow emergencies, it is illegal to park on any public street within 500 feet of an intersection controlled by traffic signals without a parking permit displayed following Section 1113. It’s also illegal to have open flames on any public property during a snow emergency, such as fireplaces and outdoor grills. When does it go into effect?
What Is A Columbus Snow Emergency?
Columbus snow emergencies are declared when 2 inches of snow or more fall and streets get icy. Cars will be towed away if they’re parked on the street during a snow emergency. Towing for free is possible in some cases, but many will have to pay a fee of up to $150. In addition, there are fines for illegally parking in yellow zones and handicap spaces. Police say they’re very strict about enforcing parking rules when it snows heavily.
There are parking restrictions in a snow emergency: no cars can park on any public street between 1 am, and 6 am. That includes both sides of the street. Vehicles also cannot park within 20 feet of an intersection, fire hydrant, stop sign, school crossing or crosswalk, or any other obstruction that could cause problems with traffic flow. During this time as well, cars must stay off sidewalks where sidewalks exist and cannot park in alleyways either.
Is Columbus under a snow emergency?
It’s not uncommon for Columbus to experience heavy snowfalls like the ones we’re experiencing now. With the predicted accumulation of 6-12 inches and wind gusts up to 40 mph, you can bet that the Department of Public Service will likely issue a snow emergency tomorrow morning. That means you’ll need to park your car on an even side street that does not have a driveway.
To stay up-to-date with official news about any emergencies, please make sure to follow @10TVColumbus on Twitter.
What countries in Ohio are under a Level 2 snow emergency?
Ohio has issued a Level 2 Ohio Snow Emergency for the following counties in Ohio:
Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Belmont, Brown, Carroll, Columbiana. Coshocton, Crawford, Cuyahoga (Cleveland), Defiance, Erie (Erie), Fairfield (Lancaster), Franklin (Columbus), Fulton (Marietta), Geauga, Greene (Akron), Guernsey (Cambridge). Hancock. Hardin. Harrison
(Dayton). Henry. Highland. Hocking. Holmes. Huron. Jackson. Jefferson. Knox. Lake. Lawrence. Licking, Logan (Youngstown), Lorain, Lucas (Toledo), Mahoning, Medina, Meigs (Portsmouth), Mercer (Newark). Morgan Montgomery
(Mansfield) Noble Perry Pike Paulding Perry Pennsylvania Perry Pickaway Pike Putnam Richland Ross Scioto Seneca Shelby Stark Summit Tuscarawas Union Van Wert Vinton Warren Washington Wayne Williams Wood Wyandot
When Are The Closings and Delays Announced?
Schools, companies, or your county government will announce some closings and delays. These announcements are typically made after 3 pm on a weekday evening. If not communicated this way, they will often be announced through social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter. Closings are generally announced simultaneously as delayed openings, but delayed openings will accompany not all closings.
Who Gets Plowed First?
Streets with bus routes, major intersections, and bridges will be cleared before the city focuses on side streets. The City of Columbus also has priorities for snow emergency ploughing; arterial streets are prioritized for snow emergency ploughing over all other residential or collector streets. Sidewalks and bike lanes will be cleared after ploughing is completed.
The Department of Public Service also has a procedure that allows residents to request sidewalk cleaning after a snowstorm.
What Happens if I Break the Curfew?
Columbus residents are subject to a snow emergency curfew for 60 hours after a snowstorm. The Ohio Snow Emergencycurfew starts at 10 PM when a heavy snowfall follows with little melting in sight. Violating the curfew will result in no vehicle or pedestrian traffic on city streets and most sidewalks starting at midnight until the following 10 AM. If yourvehicle is parked on the street during this time, it will be towed. If you are out of your home during this time, you may be unable to return.
How Often Does Columbus Have Snow Emergencies?
Columbus typically has snow emergencies when temperatures drop below freezing in the winter. We typically experience snow emergencies three or four times a year. When and if the snow emergency is lifted, it will be announced on all of our online channels, including our website and social media, as well as through the traditional broadcast media channels: radio, TV, and newspaper. The easiest way to find out about a current or future Ohio Snow Emergency is by following us on Facebook and Twitter.
Also read: weather Columbus snow emergency franklin county snow sleet central Ohio level 2 snow emergency
