IOWA, USA — Cities across northwestern and central Iowa geared up for significant snow totals on Wednesday.
The Local 5 Weather team anticipates northwestern Iowa will receive between 5-8" of snow. As such, the National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for the region beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Parts of central Iowa, including the Des Moines metro, will be under a Winter Weather Advisory and should expect up to 5" of snow.
The snow began on Wednesday morning, becoming heaviest after 4 p.m. and into Wednesday evening.
The following central Iowa cities have instated snow ordinances in response to the inclement weather:
- Ames
- Ankeny
- Bondurant
- Boone
- Carlisle
- Clive
- Des Moines
- Grimes
- Indianola
- Johnston
- Marshalltown
- Waukee
- West Des Moines
Read on for more information about each individual city's snow ordinances.
Stay Weather Aware!
Ames
The Ames snow ordinance went into effect at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
All vehicles must be moved to off-street parking or to streets that are not designated snow routes. Snow routes are marked by red and white signs.
The city anticipates the snow ordinance will be in effect until noon on Thursday, but this could vary throughout the community.
Snow ordinances in Ames generally remain in effect until streets are completely plowed and it has stopped snowing.
Ankeny's snow ordinances went into effect at 2 p.m. Wednesday and remains in effect until Friday at 12 p.m.
During the ordinance, the city says:
- No parking allowed on all public streets, alleys and on-street parking within the city when the snow ordinance is in effect.
- No parking is allowed until the snow ordinance is officially lifted by the City.
- Parking in The District at Prairie Trail and Uptown Business District is prohibited from 2 – 6 a.m.
- Vehicles parked on the street during a snow ordinance will be ticketed $40 and may be towed.
Bondurant's snow ordinance went into effect Wednesday at noon.
Vehicles are not allowed to park on any city street and must remain off the streets for 24 hours after snowfall ends.
"The event will be challenging at times due to the uncertainty of the type of precipitation and temperature throughout the storm," the city said in a release. "Main Roads and Residential Collector Streets will be the priority focus during the event."
Boone's Emergency Snow Ordinance went into effect at 11 p.m. Wednesday for both business and residential.
Residents are asked to remove cars from city roads. Ticket and tow will be in effect until 11 p.m. Thursday.
The Carlisle snow ordinance began at 12 p.m. Wednesday.
All vehicles must be removed from streets and public parking lots. The ban will last for 24 hours after snow has ended and blowing stops, according to the Carlisle Code of Ordinances.
The city of Clive announced a snow/ice ordinance Wednesday evening. Public Works and Parks crews are conducting full snow removal on Clive streets. The city asks residents to move parked vehicles from city streets.
Vehicles can be moved back 24 hours following a winter weather event, according to the city of Clive website.
The city of Des Moines announced a snow parking ordinance Thursday morning. No parking is allowed on residential streets until they are plowed.
To sign up for snow removal residents can text "SNOW" to 515-355-8815.
Drake, Carpenter, Sherman Hill and parts of the River Bend Neighborhood residents must park on the odd sides of the street from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023.
A text reminder for Odd/Even Neighborhood alerts is available. Text "ODDSNOW" to 515-355-8815.
The city of Grimes is under a snow ordinance starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday and ending at noon Thursday. During the ordinance, no parking is allowed on city streets.
The city of Indianola enforced local snow ordinances beginning Wednesday at noon. The ordinance expired as of 9 a.m. Thursday.
Under Indianola's snow emergency parking ban, residents are prohibited from parking on public streets or alleys. The ban remains in effect for 48 hours after the snow has stopped or until the streets are clear.
The City of Johnston's snow ordinance went into effect Wednesday at 8 p.m. until Thursday at 5 p.m.
No parking is allowed on city streets during that time. If you park on the street, you can receive a ticket.
Learn more about the city's ordinance here.
The city's snow ordinance went into effect at 6 p.m. Wednesday and remain in effect until plowing finishes.
The Marshalltown Police Department will ticket and tow vehicles found parked on the emergency snow routes. Vehicles towed are at the owner’s expense.
Waukee's emergency snow parking ban went into effect at 8 p.m. Wednesday and lasts until 5 p.m. Thursday.
Vehicles are not permitted to park on any city street during the ban and drivers could face being towed and/or a $25 fine.
The snow ordinance in West Des Moines is in effect from 8 p.m. Wednesday to 5 p.m. Thursday.
No vehicles can park on West Des Moines city streets during the ordinance. Cars violating the ban could be towed and/or fined $50.
