Madison Declares A Snow Emergency

The City of Madison has declared a snow emergency. That means that alternate side parking restrictions will be in effect throughout the entire City of Madison including the downtown/isthmus snow emergency zone.

"Because of the mixture of snow, sleet, and freezing rain that will fall this evening anyone planning to drive on Madison's streets should use extreme caution," Streets Division spokesperson George Dreckmann said. "We urge folks to stay off the roads if possible."

Madison residents are asked to remove all vehicles from the street if possible. Residents who must park on the street this evening should park on the EVEN house numbered side of the street. Vehicles parked on the street Sunday evening December 2nd should be parked on the ODD house numbered side of the street. Violations of the alternate side parking rules are punishable by a fine of $20 outside the Snow Emergency Zone and $30 inside.

The Snow Emergency will remain in effect until at least 7 a.m. on Monday December 3rd.

Parking is also available in the cashiered sections of city-owned ramps in the downtown area. During a declared Snow Emergency you can park for no charge at the City ramps from 1a.m. until 7 a.m. If you leave after 7 a.m. you are liable for any parking charges from 7 a.m. until the time you leave. When parking in the ramps over
night, do not park on the top level so this area can be plowed. Be aware that vehicles stored in city ramps longer than 48 hours are subject to being ticketed and towed. Meters in lots and ramps are enforced 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
Madison residents can get complete snow emergency information at www.cityofmadison.com/streets or by calling 261-9111.
Due to the expected mixed precipitation of snow, sleet and freezing rain this evening, the Street Division will not follow its usual snow emergency plowing pattern. We do not plan on plowing all City of Madison residential streets until Sunday morning. All streets in the snow emergency zone will be plowed tonight, beginning at midnight, while main streets and arterials will continue to be plowed and salted throughout the rest of the City until morning.

"Because of the potential for freezing rain most of the early morning hours we feel we should continue our salting operations on the main streets and arterials until the freezing rains ends," Dreckmann said. "This is the best way for us to protect public safety. Once the freezing rains is over we can divert slating trucks to plowing residential streets."

All City of Madison streets will be plowed beginning early on Sunday morning when the temperatures are expected to get above freezing and the precipitation is expected to switch over to rain or drizzle. It will take anywhere from 8-10 hours to plow all City street once the plowing commences Sunday morning.