Snow ordinance canceled for Friday afternoon

Daily Staff

Update (1:02 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20):

The city of Ames announced its snow ordinance will not take effect at 1 p.m. as planned. The city cited lower than expected snow totals in a tweet Friday afternoon.


The city of Ames has issued a snow ordinance to begin 1 p.m. on Friday because of weather forecasters predicting significant snow accumulation in the Ames area. 

The National Weather Service forecast shows a 60 percent chance of snow fall in Ames after 3 a.m., with less than a half inch of accumulation possible overnight. Temperatures are expected to hold steady around 2 degrees, with wind chills as low as -15.

Friday’s forecast calls for a 100 percent chance of snow, with accumulation of 1-3 inches possible. The high is expected to be near 14, but east, southeast wind at 7-10 mph will produce wind chills as low as -15.

When a snow ordinance is in effect, vehicles cannot be parked on routes marked by red or white signs. Vehicles must be moved to off-street parking or to streets that are not designated by red or white signs. If vehicles are not moved, they will be ticketed or towed. 

The city of Ames asks that residents move their vehicles from residential streets, but only cars parked on snow routes are required to be moved.