City Manager Sheryl Long has advised Cincinnati residents stay home this weekend and beware of parking restrictions as snowplow drivers work against the winter storm.
“Please stay home this weekend,” Long advised during a Friday press conference.
The forecast
The National Weather Service has issued a cold weather advisory for the Cincinnati area starting Friday at 6 p.m., with wind chills expected to drop as low as -12 overnight. The NWS also declared a winter storm warning starting Saturday morning when snow is expected to blanket the Tri-State. Sunday is when things get dicey; snow totals are estimated to reach anywhere from 6′ to 12’ inches, but freezing rain could create dangerous or impassable roads come Sunday afternoon.
Parking restrictions, plowing plans
Long declared a snow emergency for the city during the press conference, which is different than the county’s typical Level 1, 2 and 3 snow emergencies. The designation means parking will be prohibited on streets marked as snow emergency routes. Long said towing or fines will be enforced. She advised against street parking in general for those with access to driveways, saying it will help snowplow drivers.
The city will have 65 plow drivers working 12-hour shifts around the clock starting Saturday morning, with more on standby. Mark Riley, director of the Department of Public Services, said staying home will make it easier for drivers to complete their routes.
“Staying off the roads helps our crews work safely and efficiently,” Riley said.
Warming shelters
Access to warming shelters is a matter of life or death for people experiencing homelessness, so it’s important to know where to go or where to direct others as temps drop.
In Cincinnati, there are warming shelters open during the daytime hours, including:
- Cincinnati Recreation Commission rec centers
- Click here for a list of locations with hours of operation
- Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library branches
- Click here for a list of locations with hours of operation
- St. Anthony Center – 1615 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine
- Hours: Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Available to: Men and women 18+
- Services: Free food, blankets and bus transportation to/from the night shelter on Gest Street.
For those seeking shelter at night:
- Emergency Winter Shelter at the David & Rebecca Barron Center for Men Shelter House – 411 Gest St., West End
- Hours: Nightly from 7 p.m. – 6:30 a.m.
- Available to: Men and women 18+
- Services: Free Metro bus transportation to and from St. Anthony Center
For families in need of shelter with children:
- Call the Central Access Point (CAP) hotline at 513-381-SAFE (7233) or text CAP to 513-970-1515 for information about more local services and shelters.
- Call the City of Cincinnati at 311, or call the United Way at 211.