Cold and snowy weather has followed Akron into the new year, bringing a winter storm watch along with it. Summit County will be under the watch from 7 a.m. Friday through 7 p.m. Saturday, with 2 to 4 inches of snow expected Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
The City of Akron is activating its warming centers ahead of the forecasted snow and continuous cold temperatures headed into next week, Mayor Shammas Malik announced Thursday afternoon.
The Emergency Overnight Shelter, located at 111 E. Voris St., will be open from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. Jan. 2-10. This shelter provides food and clothing as well.
Summit Lake Community Center, located at 380 W. Crosier St., will have extended daytime open hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 5-10. All other community centers will be open during their normal business hours.
The city will continue to monitor the temperature and will extend community center hours as needed.
What is Akron’s snow plan?
If you plan to venture out into the (expected) snow, check the city’s snow plow tracker and online dashboard, which provides near-real-time progress updates for winter storm responses.
The tracker, which launched in February, can be accessed via the city’s 311 app, where residents can request service for ice buildups and large snow piles. Residents can also request salt or plowing services online or by calling 311.
Akron has four levels of response, based on weather forecasts and existing road conditions. Level four, which is the most intense level, includes all available trucks covering the 51 first priority routes, followed by the second and third — this level is reserved for larger snow and ice events.
Within the magnitude of response, every street in Akron is given a priority level. You can check where your street lands in the order of importance here.
- First priority streets: Expressways, METRO RTA bus routes, roads near hospitals and schools and other high-capacity roads.
- Second priority streets: Heavily traveled residential streets, hills, dead-end streets and one-way streets that service larger developments.
- Third priority streets: All other public streets.
The city’s dashboard, which covers the city’s more than 1,919 single “lane” miles, indicates the response level and current activity, such as salting or plowing.
How can I find out if my street has been cleared?
During weather events, an interactive map on the dashboard will indicate the last time a truck serviced a particular street.
How can Akron residents prepare for winter storms?
AAA recommends drivers keep an emergency kit in their vehicle. Emergency kit essentials include:
- Cell phone car chargers
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- First aid kit
- An ice scraper or snow brush and shovel
- Gloves, warm clothes and blankets
- Drinking water
- Non-perishible food
- Traction aids such as salt or non-clumping cat litter
- Reflective or warning triangles to put outside the vehicle in the case of a breakdown
Can I park on the street?
When snowfall exceeds two inches, the City of Akron automatically issues a parking ban on emergency snow streets, which are marked by signage.
A complete street parking ban generally only occurs when snowfall is greater than five inches, according to the dashboard.
How can I check the roads outside Akron?
The Ohio Department of Transportation’s OHGO app provides current construction and weather updates across the state. Updates can also be found on the OHGO website.