Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Twin Cities of Minnesota, are currently grappling with the aftermath of a significant winter storm that hit the region on December 19, 2024. The storm, which is the largest of the winter season so far, brought intense snowfall and severe weather conditions, prompting both cities to declare snow emergencies.In Minneapolis, the snow emergency began at noon on December 19, with parking rules taking effect at 9 p.m. Residents were instructed not to park on either side of snow emergency routes until 8 p.m. the following day or until the streets were fully plowed. On December 20, parking was prohibited on even-numbered sides of non-emergency routes, and this rule was reversed on December 21, with odd-numbered sides affected. These restrictions are in place to ensure thorough plowing of the streets[1].St. Paul also declared a snow emergency, effective at 9 p.m. on December 19. The city's "night plow routes," which include downtown and streets marked with signs, were plowed first. Starting at 8 a.m. on December 20, "day plow routes" were addressed, although these routes are not marked by signs. Vehicles not moved from these routes were subject to ticketing or towing. The snow emergency in St. Paul is set to last 96 hours, until December 23 at 9 p.m.[1].The winter storm caused widespread disruptions, including numerous school closures and delays, treacherous road conditions, and multiple ground stops at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Snow totals varied across the region, with areas south of the Twin Cities receiving some of the highest amounts. For example, Northfield reported 7.2 inches of snow, while Cannon Falls saw 6 inches. In the Twin Cities metro, totals ranged from 2.2 inches in Coon Rapids to 4.5 inches in Shoreview[3].Aside from the immediate impacts of the storm, other news in the Twin Cities includes preparations for upcoming events. The St. Paul Winter Carnival, a tradition dating back to 1886, is scheduled to return on January 23, promising winter fun and festivities regardless of the weather[4].In St. Paul, there are also significant developments in infrastructure and community projects. Major improvements are slated for the Smith-Dodd intersection in West St. Paul, a project that has been years in the making and aims to revamp one of the area's most dangerous intersections by 2025[4].Additionally, St. Paul schools are planning to raise the property tax levy by 7.9% in 2025, a move intended to support educational needs and resources. The city is also seeing growth in various sectors, including the opening of new businesses and community centers, such as the Our New Home Elder Day Center, which aims to support seniors' social and cognitive well-being[5].These developments highlight the dynamic and resilient nature of the Twin Cities as they navigate both immediate challenges like severe weather and long-term community and infrastructure projects.This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Ver todos los episodios