The City of Muscatine has declared a Snow Emergency for the second time this week starting at 7 a.m. Friday, January 12, and continuing through 7 a.m. Sunday, January 14. Muscatine is under a Winter Storm Warning and is expected to receive five to 10 inches of snow starting Thursday night with ice accumulations of around one tenth of an inch also expected. Winds are expected to gust as high as 50 mph reducing visibility and causing drifting snow.
Residents are reminded that on-street parking is not permitted during a declared Snow Emergency. The ban allows snowplows to access and clear streets quicker during extreme winter storms starting with the snow emergency routes.
“The biggest threat from this storm is not just the amount of snow, but also the potential ice accumulations, high winds, and bitter cold temperatures that follow,” Tyson Wedekind, Street Maintenance Supervisor, said.
The Transit Division (MuscaBus) will be running Snow Routes on Friday and Saturday with the Friday night service cancelled. (Weekday and Saturday maps).
Wedekind said that the focus will be on the snow emergency routes as the storm passes through with snow plows moving to residential areas once the wind subsides and the emergency routes remain clear.
“We will do the best we can, but it is all dependent on the storm itself,” Wedekind said.
With the potential for heavy snow, potential ice accumulations, and strong winds travel is not advised. If you must get out slow down and use caution as streets may be slick and snow covered, especially the side streets.
As the temperature drops, Public Works will switch from a salt mixture to a sand/salt mixture to assist with traction.
According to the Muscatine Snow Emergency Ordinance, when weather conditions warrant the declaration of a snow emergency, motor traffic will be expedited and parking on City of Muscatine streets will be prohibited or restricted for snow plowing and other purposes.
City Code states that during a declared snow emergency, no person shall park, or allow to remain parked, any vehicle on any portion of a Snow Emergency route. Click on the following link to view a MAP of the Snow Emergency routes. Signage marking the designated Snow Emergency routes were installed by the City of Muscatine in 2022.
This is the second time this week that a Snow Emergency has been declared under the revised Snow Emergency Ordinance.
Once a Snow Emergency ends there is still the possibility of parking restrictions as Department of Public Works crews push back the snow to the curb.
The Snow Push Back policy would be implemented, if needed, once snow removal operations are complete to the appropriate levels of service on all Class I, Class II, and Class III roadways. Definitions of the different roadways can be found by reviewing the SNOW AND ICE CONTROL POLICY.
Residents will be provided 24-hour notice prior to the implementation of the Snow Push Back policy’s odd-even parking plan. See SNOW PUSH BACK POLICY for more information on parking restrictions.
A Snow Emergency Hotline has been established by the Department of Public Works for residents to find out if a Snow Emergency has been declared and, if so, the duration of that snow emergency. The number for the Snow Emergency Hotline is 563-272-2506.
For more information visit the Snow & Ice Control page on the City of Muscatine website.