Mayor Walsh Issues Snow Safety Alert as Snowstorm Approaches Syracuse

Published on December 29, 2025

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Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh has issued a snow safety alert as a major winter storm is forecast to bring heavy snowfall and strong winds to the City of Syracuse. Snowfall rates combined with wind gusts up to 50mph are expected to create dangerous travel, including whiteout conditions. New York State has issued a statewide emergency, and travel advisory has been issued for Onondaga County and will be in effect until Wednesday, Dec 31 at 7:00 a.m. As part of the alert, the City is providing key reminders to residents and travelers about snow plowing operations, sidewalk snow removal responsibilities and traffic safety. 
“Periods of heavy snow, sleet and strong winds are expected to significantly reduce visibility and make travel hazardous,” said Mayor Walsh. “Our DPW crews will be actively responding and preparing citywide, and we urge residents to use caution; limit travel, when possible; follow parking regulations, and clear sidewalks to help keep everyone safe.”  
The City’s Snow Safety Alert advises drivers to be prepared for hazardous road conditions, reminds residents to obey odd-even parking regulations, and urges property owners to clear their sidewalks and around fire hydrants. Information on snow safety in the City of Syracuse is available at syr.gov/winter. Residents are encouraged to use the City’s live Snow Plow Map on the Snow Safety page to gauge real-time road conditions throughout the event to make informed decisions before venturing into snowy conditions.  
What Residents Should Know 
Plows prioritize clearing primary and service roads to ensure accessibility for emergency services, focusing on high-volume roadways, emergency routes, hills, and major destinations. Neighborhood side streets are plowed once major routes are clear and snowfall has subsided. In Central New York, city, county, and state agencies work together to maintain highways and service roads. For more information before venturing into snowy weather, residents can visit syr.gov/winter. 
What Residents Should Do  
Property owners should clear snow from sidewalks on their properties and around fire hydrants. Keeping sidewalks as clear as possible during and after the storm helps to keep pedestrians from walking in roads with vehicle traffic.  
The Syracuse Fire Department asks residents to clear a three-foot area around and a path to fire hydrants near their property. The City will continue the Sidewalk Snow Removal program this year. Residents can view and download the map of sidewalks that will be cleared by the City in the Sidewalk Snow Removal section of the Snow Safety page. Even in these areas, residents are still responsible for keeping their sidewalks clear.  
Residents should observe alternate side parking rules and park cars off-street whenever possible. DPW plows need to be able to access streets to clear them. Syracuse Police will be ticketing and towing vehicles that are illegally parked. 
The City has identified priority streets for focused parking enforcement during snow events. These streets were
selected using city data, including the percentage of multi-family dwellings, the width of the street, and other elements contributing to increases in on-street parking. The list also includes streets known to be challenging for plow drivers:   
Northeast
  • 100 & 300 blocks of Collingwood Ave.
  • 100 block of Durston Ave.
  • 100 block of Jasper St.
  • 100 block of Mildred Ave.
  • 200 block of Nichols Ave.
  • 100 block of Paul Ave.
  • 100 block of Peck Ave.
Southeast
  • 500 block of Clarendon St.
  • 100 block of Redfield Pl.
  • 200 block of Robert Dr.
  • 200 & 300 blocks of Roosevelt Ave.
  • 800 Sumner Ave.
Northwest
  • 300 block of Apple St.
  • 200 block of Bryant Ave.
  • 100 block of Steuben St.
  • 200 block of Tennyson Ave.
Southwest
  • 100 block of Belle Ave.
  • 100 & 200 blocks of Calthrop Ave.
  • 100 block of Fernwood Ave.
  • 100 block of Matson Ave.
  • 300 Newell St.
  • 100 block of Ostrander Ave.
  • 100 block of Parkside Ave.
  • 100 block of Parkway Dr.
  • 100 & 200 blocks of Reed Ave.
  • 200 block of Reed Ave.
Residents are advised that seasonal odd-even parking restrictions will be enforced on certain downtown blocks as well.
The City has posted signage marking the parking changes and listing the hours for alternate parking.
Restrictions are in place in the following areas:
  • 100 & 200 blocks Erie Blvd. E. 
  • 100 & 200 blocks E. Water St. 
  • 100 & 200 blocks S. Warren St. 
  • 300 & 400 blocks S. Warren St.  
  • 300 block of Montgomery St. 
  • 100 & 200 blocks Madison St. 
  • 100 & 200 blocks E. Jefferson St.
  • 100 block W. Jefferson St. 
Registered vehicle owners found in violation of the restrictions will be subject to ticketing and towing. For more information on Downtown Syracuse parking options, including options for overnight parking, please see the Downtown Parking brochure or contact the Downtown Committee at 315-422-8284 or email them at mail@downtownsyracuse.com. 
City residents are encouraged to submit snow related concerns and requests to Cityline using the SYRCityline app or by calling 315-448-CITY (2489). For all emergencies, the public should call 9-1-1. 

 

For Media Inquiries

For media inquiries, members of the press should contact the Office of Communications by emailing press@syr.gov.

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