Snow Events
A Snow Event is declared following a forecast of falling and/or blowing snow expected to accumulate at a depth of 1.5+ inches, and/or freezing rain, sleet, or other winter weather patterns resulting in hazardous roadway conditions. The city will terminate the Snow Event once weather conditions have improved.
If the city declares a Snow Event, overnight parking on city streets and in city-owned parking lots is prohibited from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. If plow operators encounter vehicles parked on city streets and/or in restricted lots during a Snow Event, Elk River Police will be dispatched to ticket and tow, per city ordinance.
Where Can I Park During a Snow Event?
Dedicated overnight Snow Event parking includes 26 spaces along the north side of the King Avenue lot, as well as 23 lower lot spaces closest to the Mississippi River adjacent to the pavilion at Rivers Edge Commons Park. Click here for a map of downtown parking options and prohibited spaces.
The Elk River City Council adopted Snow Event parking restrictions as an alternative to daily, season-long parking restrictions that are a challenge to enforce and can be cumbersome for residents and visitors. Just remember, if it looks like it will snow, keep your vehicle off the street so the plows can have roads open for the next business day.
Snow Event Notification Methods
The City of Elk River has several ways to get the word out to residents about a Snow Event declaration. Staff aims to declare a Snow Event the afternoon/early evening before a forecast of inclement weather, to allow residents time to plan accordingly for the next day when parking is restricted from 2:00-6:00 a.m. This information is pushed out via the following channels: Social Media
For the latest information on Snow Event declarations in a shareable user-friendly format, follow Elk River City Government on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you never miss a notification about winter parking restrictions.Nextdoor is another tool city officials use to spread the word about Snow Events and the coinciding winter parking restrictions. Learn more about Nextdoor, see if your neighborhood already has an established page by clicking here.
CodeRED
CodeRED is an automated emergency alert notification system offered through Sherburne County. Any Elk River resident/business with a landline phone number is automatically subscribed to CodeRED annually, however residents have the option to opt out, or sign up to receive alerts on other devices, such as a cell phone, or sent via email. To sign up for CodeRed click here and complete the form.Notify Me
Be sure to subscribe to Notify Me alerts on the city's website. Similar to CodeRED, Notify Me gives you the option to select how you'd like to be notified (email or text message), in addition to allowing you to choose what notifications you'd like to receive.FAQs
Do you have additional questions about Snow Events in Elk River? Check out the FAQ page by clicking here.