Syracuse Sun

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh has issued a Snow Safety Alert, urging residents to exercise caution as severe winter weather conditions impact the city and Onondaga County. The National Weather Service has placed a Lake Effect Snow Warning in effect from 7 p.m. tonight until 4 p.m. Monday, while County Executive Ryan McMahon has declared a countywide Travel Advisory.

Mayor Walsh described the situation as a "triple threat" with ice, snow, and high winds expected to create hazardous conditions. He warned that rain earlier in the day had resulted in slushy areas and standing water on roads, which could worsen as temperatures drop and rain turns to snow. High winds pose an additional risk of falling tree limbs covered in ice and snow.

The City of Syracuse's Snow Safety Alert advises drivers to prepare for dangerous road conditions, adhere to odd-even parking regulations, and clear sidewalks and areas around fire hydrants. Information about snow safety is available at syr.gov/winter. Residents are reminded not to touch power lines downed by trees and should report such incidents by calling 911 or the National Grid emergency line.

Residents can monitor real-time road conditions using the City’s live Snow Plow Map on the Snow Safety page and follow @SYRCityline on social media for updates.

Property owners are urged to keep sidewalks clear during and after the storm to prevent pedestrians from walking on roads with vehicle traffic. The Syracuse Fire Department requests that residents maintain a three-foot clearance around fire hydrants near their properties. The City will continue its Sidewalk Snow Removal program this year but emphasizes that residents remain responsible for keeping their sidewalks clear.

Parking enforcement will focus on priority streets identified through city data, including streets with multi-family dwellings or narrow widths that present challenges for plow drivers. Seasonal odd-even parking restrictions will also be enforced downtown, with signage indicating changes and alternate parking hours.

Plows will prioritize primary roads to ensure access for emergency services before addressing neighborhood side streets once major routes are cleared. Coordination among city, county, and state agencies aims to maintain highways and service roads throughout Central New York.

For more information or concerns related to snow events, residents can contact Cityline via the SYRCityline app or call 315-448-8360. Emergency situations should be reported by calling 9-1-1.