Extreme Cold and Snow: Parking Restrictions, School Cancellations

With temperatures predicted to drop to 11 degrees below zero on Monday, city officials are offering precautionary tips and asking residents to comply with voluntary parking restrictions. The city's public and several private schools will also shut down on Monday.

The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures will hold steady around -11 Monday, with a wind chill as low as -43 degrees. A wind chill warning is in effect from 6 p.m. Sunday through 12 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, according to the National Weather Service.

Parking Restrictions

All told, some 18 inches of snow had fallen over Evanston as of Sunday morning, with another 3-6 inches during the day, according to public works director Suzette Robinson. City plow crews battled light snow showers and blowing, drifting snow in an attempt to clear all residential streets Sunday. Once the snow stopped on Sunday, Robinson said there is no more snow forecast until at least Friday, giving city crews time to catch up.

While plow crews continue to clear the streets, residents are asked to voluntarily comply with a snow route parking ban from 11 p.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday (see a map of snow routes here). Residents are also asked to voluntarily comply with even/odd snow parking restrictions from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. 

Even/odd snow parking restrictions require vehicles to park on the odd-numbered sides of marked streets on Monday, and on the even-numbered sides of marked streets on Tuesday. 

City crews cleared and hauled snow on parts of Noyes, Central, Main, Howard and Church streets Saturday night, and were stockpiling snow at James Park and the service center, according to Robinson. She said city crews would post "No Parking" signs for snow removal along the Church and Dodge business area from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. along Chicago Avenue from South Boulevard to Church Street. 

School Cancellations, Library Closed

Evanston Township High School, Northwestern University and all District 65 schools and centers will be closed on Monday, Jan. 6. After-school activities, events and meetings on Monday are also canceled at ETHS. 

Other closures include Beth Emet Early Childhood, Cherry Preschool, Child Care Center of Evanston, McGaw YMCA Children's Center, Midwest Montessori School, Roycemore School, Shore Lois Lloyd Center, St. Athanasius School, St. Joan of Arc School, the Family Institute at Northwestern University and Total Child.

All Evanston Public Library locations will be closed on Monday, Jan. 6, due to the cold. The due date on materials due Monday will be extended to Tuesday, Jan. 7, when the library will reopen.

City Warming Centers Open

Residents with issues during the extreme cold may contact the city's 311 information line from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday. Several city recreation centers will be open as warming shelters (see a list with times here). Anyone who needs transportation to a warming shelter should contact 311. 

Precautionary Tips For Preventing Frozen Pipes

The city offered the following precautionary tips for property owners to prevent water service lines from freezing:

• Insulate or wrap UL-listed heat tape around water pipes.
• Keep cabinet doors open under kitchen and bathroom sinks overnight. 
• Run water at a small trickle. 
• Set the thermostat no lower than 55 degrees.