The Mayor has announced that a residential parking ban will go into effect at 3 p.m. Sunday, February 24.  At that time, parking will be banned on the even numbered sides of residential streets.  That is generally the north and east sides of the street.  The snow emergency parking ban on both sides of all emergency snow routes, bus and school routes and other major arterial streets is still active.  For a map of these routes, visit snow.lincoln.ne.gov.  Both bans remain in effect until lifted by the Mayor.  Vehicles parked illegally during Snow Emergency and Residential Parking bans are subject to fines, towing and storage costs at the owners’ expense.  Vehicles parked in a way that does not allow emergency vehicles to pass may be ticketed for obstructing a public street.  For information on towed vehicles, call the Emergency Communications Center, 402-441-7204.

Forty crews will continue to plow emergency snow routes and apply deicers and salt pre-wet with brine, as needed, until early tomorrow morning when it is safe to begin clearing arterial streets.

Streets are snow and ice packed with very slick conditions. Wind gusts continue to decrease visibility to less than a quarter mile.  Plowing operations may, at times, be temporarily suspended this evening as blizzard conditions near zero visibility putting the safety of operators in danger and diminishing their effectiveness.  If this occurs, assisting Lincoln Fire and Rescue and the Lincoln Police Department will be the sole mission until conditions improve.

The National Weather Service Blizzard Warning remains in effect until 3 a.m. Sunday.  Snow accumulations of 4 to 12 inches and winds gusts of 35 to 50 mph are possible.

 Travel is strongly discouraged.  Strong winds with blowing and drifting snow create low to zero visibility and it is recommended you not travel and seek shelter until the storm passes.

If you must travel, use extreme caution as it will be very difficult, if not impossible.  Have a travel kit in your vehicle, be alert at intersections as many signal indicators have become snow packed, and watch for possible falling tree limbs as well.  If you become stranded, stay with your vehicle and call for help, unless you see help nearby.  Please be sure to give City crews plenty of room to do their job.

Please stay informed on the status of snow operations in Lincoln.  Additional information is available on the City website at snow.lincoln.ne.gov.  If you have questions, you may call the Transportation and Utilities Snow Center at 402-441-7644.