City Issues Winter Weather Advisory

Get ready for a cozy weekend indoors if you can manage it, as a cold and snowy mess is headed our way.

A winter weather advisory is in effect from midnight Friday through 6pm Saturday, and the Department of Sanitation will have plows at the ready for a snow alert that begins on Friday at 10pm.

The National Weather Service is predicting between 1-3 inches of snow tonight, then a delightful mix of rain, snow, freezing rain, and sleet early tomorrow, with less than an inch of additional accumulation expected.

Because of the storm, alternate side parking has been suspended for Saturday, January 24. As of this posting, garbage, recycling, and organics collections remain on schedule for Saturday.

A quick reminder about what a bunch of snow means you’ve got to do:

What’s required

• Every owner, lessee, tenant, occupant or other person having charge of any lot or building must clean snow and or ice from the sidewalk.
• Cleaning must be done within 4 hours after the snow has stopped falling.
• If snow stops falling after 9pm, it must be cleared by 11am the following morning.
• Snow may not be thrown into the street.
• If snow becomes frozen or is too hard to remove, residents can uses ashes, sand, sawdust or similar materials within the same time limits.
• The sidewalk must be cleaned as soon as the weather permits.

The fine for violating any of these rules is between $100 and $150 for the first offense, and as high as $350 for subsequent offenses, according to city notices.

What’s recommended

• During heavy snowfall, clear your sidewalk before the snow stops falling. It’s courteous to neighbors who may still have to get around, and it will make the job easier for yourself at the end of the day.
• Check on your neighbors. If you live next to an elderly or disabled person, lend a hand and shovel for them. Hey, they may make you an apple pie.
• Avoid using salt unless absolutely necessary. It can damage the sidewalk, leading to costly repairs for you down the road. Use kitty litter or sand instead.
• If someone does slip and fall, go and see if they’re okay. It’s sad that this needs to be pointed out, but many people just snicker and go on their way.
• Cleaning up your dog’s poop is still legally required, even if it’s sitting in some snow. Don’t be a jerk.

Want to see if the roads you need to travel on have been cleared? Check out the city’s Plow Tracker.

Finally, if you do venture out (or you have a nice view from inside) and you take any photos of the neighborhood under a blanket of white, send them our way at editor@bklyner.com.