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Winter storm warning issued for DeKalb County as New Year snowstorm looms

DeKALB – DeKalb County could between four to eight inches of snow in the new year, according to the National Weather Service, which on Friday issued a winter storm warning for the area.

The warning will be effective beginning 9 a.m. Saturday, New Year’s Day, through midnight Sunday, Jan. 2. The warning impacts much of northern Illinois, including Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Ogle, Lee, Kane, LaSalle, Kendall, Grundy and Will counties.

Drivers should expect steady, blowing snow which will make travel dangerous, the alert states. Northwest winds could gust up to 35 mph Saturday afternoon and evening, and impact visibility on roads.

The steadiest snowfall is expected between 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday.

Warming centers available in DeKalb County to cut the cold

Seasonal parking in effect

Seasonal parking restrictions for the winter are underway in DeKalb as city officials activated snow routes Tuesday afternoon while snowfall exceeded two inches during the winter storm.

According to a citywide alert text sent about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, snow routes were activated, which means parking will be prohibited along certain roadways throughout the city to ensure snowplows have easy access to clear streets.

If cars are parked along areas marked for snow routes, DeKalb police could issue tickets. Therefore, residents and drivers are strongly encouraged to remove cars from all streets to facilitate snow removal operations.

DeKalb police could issue tickets between $25 and $75 for violating the snow emergency route ordinance, and are authorized to ticket and tow vehicles, according to city code.

According to city code, cars parked in an area designated as a snow route must move their vehicle after two inches of snowfall. Parking is prohibited along snow routes when activated during winter weather, according to DeKalb city code. Snow routes will be deactivated once the plows have come through.

Information on snow routes and a snow plow map can be found on the city website cityofdekalb.com/369/Snow-Plowing.

Here’s where the city of DeKalb has designated snow routes. Read snow map here:

DeKalb’s Public Works department urges residences to park your vehicle in your driveway if possible, when not in use. If a car is parked on a snow route when an emergency is declared, it needs to be moved immediately.

Seasonal parking restrictions are in effect through March 31, regardless of weather conditions, according to city code.

In Sycamore

Parking on city streets and in city lots if there is more than 2 inches of snowfall is prohibited, according to the Sycamore Police Department, and that prohibition remains in effect for 24 hours after the snowfall.

“When cars are parked on the street after a snowfall, our snow plow drivers spend extra time maneuvering around cars instead of moving the snow,” said Sycamore Director of Public Works Matt Anderson in a news release. “Having the streets clear of cars when we are plowing lets us plow the streets that much quicker, and prevents the ice mounds that form around the parked cars.”

Sycamore Police Chief Jim Winters said the parking prohibition is to ensure safety for both snow plow workers and drivers.

“The ordinance has been in place for many years and is intended to allow our Public Works the ability to clear streets so cars can travel safely,” Winters said in a news release. “By keeping the streets clear, emergency vehicles are also less likely to be delayed when responding to calls.”

The Sycamore Police Department will send reminders on social media and post advisories on the City of Sycamore web page. E-mails and text messages have also been sent to those registered with the city’s Code Red notification system.

Residents are also reminded it is against city code to push snow into the streets as it creates a safety hazard for drivers.

Source: The Daily Chronicle

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