Lots of snow updates – basically everything is closed down, but they are attempting to pick up garbage, Madison Metro buses are not running, snow emergency in effect so move cars so you don’t get tickets, Madison schools closed yesterday already, city and county offices shut down, campus in-person exams cancelled, yadda, yadda, yadda. I guess its an obligatory post for today . . . in case you didn’t know there is snow outside. These are all updates from various press releases and listserve updates.
4:30 AM SNOW PLOWING UPDATE
As of 4:30 this morning we had 6″ of snow on the ground. This is very wet heavy snow which makes plowing difficult. We have had crews out plowing our salt routes since the storm began. We will have 50 trucks working major streets starting at 5 a.m. and another 30-40 trucks out at 7 a.m. We plan to begin work on residential streets later in the day and we will provide more information on our plans for these streets in future updates.
We have opened up driving lanes on major streets however residential streets are deeply snow covered and will remain so throughout most of the day. Drivers should be cautious on all streets, especially on side streets and at intersections where windrows are present.
Madison Metro has suspended operations for the day. The Streets Division will attempt refuse and recycling collection but we may not be able to service residential streets until Friday. We will be posting updates on our web site www.cityofmadison.com/streets.
SNOW EMERGENCY DECLARED
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.
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 ODDhouse numbered side of the street. Vehiclesparked on the street Friday evening December 21st should be parked on the EVENhouse numbered side of the street. Violations of the alternate side parking rules are punishable by a fine of $60 throughout the entire City of Madison. Violators could also be towed.
The Snow Emergency will remain in effect until at least 7 a.m. on Saturday December 22nd.
Parking is 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 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. If you enter before 9 p.m. or leave after 7 a.m. you are liable for any parking charges before 9 p.m. and from 7 a.m. until the time you leave.
MADISON METRO BUSES NOT RUNNING TODAY
Metro Service Cancelled – Thursday, December 20
Due to safety considerations based on current and projected weather conditions, Metro has cancelled all fixed-route and paratransit bus service for today, Thursday, December 20.
Metro’s administration/lost and found office is also closed for the day.
Service is expected to resume again Friday, December 21.
Metro riders are encouraged to sign up for text/email alerts for all winter weather and other service updates.
https://my.cityofmadison.com/
DANE COUNTY OFFICES CLOSED
The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning, effective today (Wednesday) at 6pm until Noon on Thursday. The NWS has also issued a blizzard warning for Dane County effective Thursday, December 20th from Noon until Midnight.
Current forecasts predict a long duration event with heavy snow between Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon, blizzard conditions to follow with wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour that will create drifting and whiteouts, and ice that could make certain roads difficult to navigate or impassable.
While recent forecasts have indicated the potential of a rain/snow mix Thursday morning, forecasts still show a potential for snow accumulation of more than 16 inches in the Madison area. This rapid transition to heavy snow, combined with strong winds, could create dangerous traffic conditions until mid-afternoon on Friday.
Given these current forecasts, Dane County will close non-essential services and the Dane County Courthouse on Thursday, December 20th. Normal county operations will resume on Friday, December 21st.
The decision to close non-essential services errs on the side of safety and will keep the cars of county employees off the roads during critical storm clean up efforts – a consideration that the county hopes other major employers will make as well. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is also recommending that individuals refrain from travel until the storm has subsided.
Public safety services performed by the Dane County Sheriff’s Department, the Dane County Highway Department, and the 911 center will continue to operate as normal through the blizzard. Sheriff’s deputies will continue patrols and snow-plowing crews will continue efforts to clear highways and roads.
The Dane County Executive’s Office along with the Departments of Emergency Management, Public Works and Highway, and the Sheriff’s Office will monitor the blizzard throughout its duration. The Dane County Emergency Operations Center will be staffed through the night to assist with coordinating response to the storm.
MADISON SCHOOLS CLOSED
All Madison schools will be closed Thursday, December 20 due to weather conditions, including a blizzard warning for the region. All school buildings will be closed for the entire day and evening. MSCR, athletics and other evening activities will also be canceled for Thursday.
Evening events on Wednesday will go on as scheduled.
City of Madison Offices and Facilities Closed to the Public on Thursday, December 20
With heavy snow and wind in the forecast, Madison Mayor Paul Soglin has determined that City offices and facilities will be closed to the public on Thursday, December 20.
“The safety of the general public is the most important thing to keep in mind,” said Mayor Soglin. “With the snow being forecast to last throughout the day, combined with high winds, we need to keep roads clear for emergency vehicles. I am not comfortable with the general public or City employees making their way to and from City offices.”
City plows and sanders will be out in force throughout the snow and wind event. Madison Streets does plan regular trash and recycling collections, however large item pick up is suspended on Thursday. Parking in City Garages will be free of charge this evening so residents can clear the streets for plows.Regular updates and information on City services this winter are available through http://www.cityofmadison.com/residents/Winter/. Residents can also sign up to get email and text message alerts through the site regarding plowing updates, parking restrictions and shoveling regulations, as well as recreational and other activities.
and
Given the amount of snow in the forecast along with high winds, the Mayor has determined that we will be closing all non-emergency city services to the public tomorrow. As has been the practice, the City will not shut down completely due to inclement weather or lock out any employees who are capable of making it to work safely in such conditions. Even though services will be closed to the public, employees who can report to work safely in such conditions will be allowed to do so. Please note in making your determination that the majority of the snow is predicted to fall during the workday tomorrow and winds will be high all day, so getting to work may be much easier than getting home. Wherever possible, employees that are not required to report to work in extreme weather conditions are encouraged to make alternative arrangements in accordance with APM 2-18 and applicable collective bargaining agreements.
Please post this notification for employees that do not have email access.
UW MOSTLY CLOSED, IN-PERSON EXAMS CANCELLED
Limited campus services available Thursday
10 hours ago
Despite the snow, a handful of campus services will be available to students on Thursday, including both unions, RecSports facilities, University Housing dining services and urgent medical care from UHS. Please note, schedules are subject to change based on the availability of staffing.
Wisconsin Union: Memorial Union and Union South will remain open on Thursday. Both buildings are scheduled to open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. with limited services available, including study space.
Student Activity Center (SAC): The SAC is closed Thursday.
General Library System: At this time, most Libraries will be closed. The Wisconsin Historical Society is still scheduled to be open, although that may change. Learn more about library closing times.
RecSports: The Division of Recreational Sports is making arrangements to be open as scheduled at all facilities by utilizing student employees that reside in nearby residence halls to open and staff the facilities. Complete schedules will be posted Thursday.
University Housing: Residential facilities remain open. All five dining units will be open normal hours Thursday, supject to availability of staffing. Updates will be posted to message board TVs in Housing.
University Health Services: UHS will open at 10 a.m. tomorrow to provide urgent medical services only.
DoIT InfoLabs: Computer labs in University Housing, the Student Activity Center and Union South will be open.
UW Hospital and Clinics Emergency Room: Open, but other UW Health clinics and services are available on a limited basis.
Inter-city buses departing from Memorial Unin: Check with your bus carrier.
DoIT Help Desk services:
EAST will be closed
Walk-In Help Desk will be closed
HDL2 will be closed
General Help Desk will be open for phone, chat, and emailChazen Museum of Art: Closed.
FREE PARKING IN RAMPS LAST NIGHT TIL 9 AM THIS MORNING
This one is a little late, but a great money maker for the city! I’m not moving my car today and they will make $20 off me with their “free” parking.
FREE OVERNIGHT PARKING IN CITY GARAGES,
STARTING AT 9 PM TONIGHT, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19THIn anticipation of the heavy winter snow storm that will begin this evening, the Madison Parking Utility will open up its garages to residents who need to get their vehicles off the street tonight.
There will be no charge for parking in the city-operated garages between 9 PM and 7 AM. Vehicles parked before or after this period will be charged the hourly rate for that location for the additional time parked.
This free overnight parking during the hours of 9 PM-7AM will continue through the termination of the snow emergency.
When parking in the garages overnight, do not park on the top level so this area can be plowed.
For any other information, please visit our website cityofmadison.com/parkingutility or contact our office at (608) 266-4761.
STILL COLLECTING GARBAGE AND RECYCLING, NOT LARGE ITEMS
Refuse and Recycling Collection Will Be Done on Thursday Large Item Collection Suspended
The Streets Division plans to conduct refuse and recycling collection on Thursday as scheduled. Large item collection will be suspended as the vehicles and staff will be needed for snow and ice operations.
“We are planning to do refuse and recycling collection on Thursday in spite of the forecasts for heavy snow,” Madison recycling coordinator George Dreckmann said. “We will evaluate our ability to finish our routes as the day goes on, but residents should put their material out for collection by 7 a.m. Our crews are used to collecting material in winter storms so we are hopeful we can complete both refuse and recycling collection.”
Residents should not put their carts in the street as they could be damaged by plows. It is also advisable to put carts out in the morning if possible, but they must be out no later than 7 a.m. to ensure collection.
“We are going to suspend large item collection on Thursday and possibly Friday,” Dreckmann said. “We use our large item trucks for plow operations and we will need them during the day. Residents should hold their large items until their next scheduled pick up or bring them to our drop off sites at 1501 W. Badger Rd or 4602 Sycamore Av.”
Snow is Here; Here’s What to Do
Now that winter is really here, the City of Madison Fire Department and Madison Gas and Electric have some tips to help you stay safe when the snow piles up.
MGE, along with the MFD, reminds residents to keep the area around gas meter equipment clear of snow and ice. Heavy snow and ice from above that could fall on the meter should be removed to avoid potential equipment damage and a gas leak. The snow and ice near the meter should be carefully moved by hand to avoid equipment damage that could be caused by a shovel.
Furnace and water heater vent pipes that run outside the home need to be clear of snow and ice in order for the units to operate properly. Blocked pipes can shut down the furnace or water heater and lead to a carbon monoxide build up inside the home.
Wisconsin state law requires carbon monoxide alarms in all residences. The law applies to any dwellings with fuel burning appliances, fireplaces, or attached garages. Alarms must be installed in the basement, and on each floor level.
If you suspect a gas leak inside or outside your home, leave the area immediately and call MGE at 252-1111 day or night.
The Fire Department is also asking residents to pay special attention to snow around fire hydrants.
In order to prevent unneeded delays during a fire emergency, take the time to clear snow from around hydrants near your home – a minimum of 3 feet on each side to give firefighters the quickest and best access. The best time to do it is right after the snowfall, before snow gets packed down.
Please consider adopting a fire hydrant close to you, and keeping it clear of snow throughout the winter.
•When sweeping the snow from sidewalks in front of your home, take special care not to block the hydrant.
•If you notice a fire hydrant in your neighborhood is leaking or broken, please call the Madison Water Utility’s 24-hour hotline at 266-4661.
LETTER TO CAR CAMPERS FROM POLICE DEPARTMENT
City of Madison staff has noted that your vehicle has been parked on Madison streets on a regular basis. In addition, it appears that you are using this vehicle for shelter from the elements. With harsher weather on the way, we are concerned that you are able to maintain adequate shelter options for your basic needs.
Alternate shelter and housing options are available through several community-based options including Porchlight (306 N. Brooks St., 608-257-2534), the YWCA (101 E. Mifflin St., 608-257-1436) and the Salvation Army (630 E. Washington Av., 608-256-2321).
If you do choose to stay sheltered in your vehicle, make sure to keep the vehicle’s exhaust area clear of snow all the way down to the ground, if you run the vehicle to stay warm, as snow obstructions can allow carbon monoxide to build up inside the vehicle.
In addition parking restrictions are added for winter weather, specifically Alternate Side Parking and Snow Emergency, 12.1335, MGO. Other parking restrictions are in place all year round including, Abandoned Vehicles, 12.128(4), MGO, and Street Storage Prohibited, 12.128(3), MGO. Violations of these parking restrictions can result in a vehicle being towed.
The Police Department has also been notified of instances of safety concerns related to disorderly or criminal behavior. There have been reports of harassment and physical altercations. We believe that more incidents have occurred but have not been reported.
We encourage all citizens to contact 911 if they are being threatened or subjected to physical violence.
The Winter Daytime Warming Shelter was open and running its usual hours 🙂