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Document · seen July 16, 2026

Snow Emergency

This document explains Pottsville's snow emergency procedures, including how emergencies are declared, alert levels, resident responsibilities during emergencies, parking restrictions, and snow removal ordinances.

What is a Snow Emergency?

There may be times when the falling and accumulation of snow and ice upon the streets of Pottsville constitutes a significant danger to the safety and well being of residents and/or people traveling within the City. At that time, a determination will be made by the mayor of Pottsville to declare a "Snow Emergency" or a snow related "Parking Ban" for the City. The factors that will be taken into consideration to declare a snow emergency or parking ban are: the severity of the storm, ice, forecasted conditions, information received from the Police Department, and the Governor's declaration of a State Snow Emergency.

How will I know if A Snow Emergency Has Been Declared?

Once a Snow Emergency has been declared:

  1. Residents with access to cable television or the internet can go to Channel 15 (Community Access Channel), or visit www.pottsvillepa.gov. Weather status and Snow Emergency updates will be posted.
  2. Residents can also obtain Snow Emergency information from local news stations including WPPA, T102, and WNEP

Are there levels of Snow Emergency?

There are levels of Snow Emergency that can be issued based upon the severity of the storm. It is also possible that the level can be changed based upon changes in the weather during a declaration.

  • LEVEL 1: Parking Ban in Effect (3-6 inches or more of snow or more). Motorists are urged to drive very cautiously.
  • LEVEL 2: Roadways are hazardous with blowing and drifting snow (6 inches of snow or more). Roads may also be very icy. Only those who feel it is necessary to drive should be out on the roads. Contact your employer to see if you should report to work. Motorists should use extreme caution. Parking ban is in effect.
  • LEVEL 3: All roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel. No one should be driving during these conditions unless it is absolutely necessary to travel or a personal emergency exists. All employees should contact their employer to see if they should report to work. Parking ban is in effect.

What Are My Responsibilities When a Snow Emergency Is Declared?

In addition to adhering to the driving cautions and or restrictions as detailed in the Level 1, 2, or 3 level declaration, residents must comply with the parking restrictions for all Snow Emergency Routes and Fire Lanes.

Snow Emergency Routes

The following streets are designated as snow emergency routes in the City of Pottsville:

  • Centre
  • East Norwegian
  • Laurel Blvd (Centre to 2nd)
  • Laurel Blvd (9th to 12th)
  • Mauch Chunk
  • Nichols
  • West Market
  • 7th Street (Howard to Mahantongo Street)
  • 16th Street (Market to Elk)

Vehicles must be removed from the north side of East Norwegian, Mauch Chunk, Nichols and West Market Streets, and from the west side of 12th Street and both sides of Centre.

Fire Lanes

The following streets are designated as fire lanes:

  • 2nd Street (Laurel to Sanderson)
  • Morgan Ave. (3rd to 7th, north side only)
  • Sanderson St.
  • 3rd Street (Sanderson to Morgan)
  • 4th Street (Mahantongo to Boone)
  • 6th Street (Mahantongo to Boone)
  • 9th Street (Mahantongo to Pierce)
  • 20th Street
  • Deerfield Dr.
  • Pierce Street (2nd to 4th)
  • Schuylkill Avenue (2nd to 4th)
  • Union Street (2nd to 4th)
  • Wolfe Street (Norwegian to Ridge)

Cars must be removed from these streets. Residents from these areas are encouraged to remove their vehicles as far in advance of the storm as possible.

Temporary Parking Areas

The following areas have been identified as temporary parking for affected residents:

  • 3rd Street: Schuylkill County Court House juror lot
  • Centre Street: Arch and Union Street lots, Capitol and Mahantongo Street Parking Decks
  • E. Norwegian: Arch and Union Street lots, Capitol parking Garage, Good Samaritan Anderson St. lot
  • Mauch Chunk: Union Street lot
  • Nichols St.: North side of East Railroad
  • W. Market St: Pottsville Area School District Academic Center (lower lot), Arch and Union St. lots, Capitol and Mahantongo St. parking garages, East side of Yorkville Boyers Parking lot

Temporary parking is available only during the snow emergency. Residents are required to remove their vehicles and utilize traditional parking once the Snow Emergency Plan is lifted. Mahantongo Street will be one way east bound from 12th Street to 3rd Street.

During the snow emergency residents must move vehicles as soon as possible to temporary parking areas. After a Snow Emergency has been declared, residents will have 8 hours to move their vehicles off Snow Emergency Routes. Any vehicles that are not moved within the 8-hour time limit will be towed at the expense of the owner.

The emergency snow plan relies heavily on the cooperation of residents during a snow emergency. Parked vehicles left on snow emergency routes will cause both delays in service and potential safety concerns. Be sure to check if your street is a snow emergency route and be aware of when a snow emergency is declared.

What are Snow Emergency Routes?

These are the main "connecting" roads throughout the City that are essential for travel, those that are needed for access for emergency vehicles, and those that are needed for access to schools and hospitals.

What are Fire Lanes?

Fire Lanes are streets used by the Fire Department and other emergency responders to reach all City Neighborhoods.

What are Secondary Routes and Alleys?

Secondary Routes are the secondary level of necessity for travel within the City. Alleys are primarily intended to provide residents with the ability to reach garage/off street parking and also allow delivery access to homes and business in the City. The snow plan will remove snow from in the following priority order:

  1. Snow Emergency Routes/Fire Lanes
  2. Secondary Routes
  3. Alleys

What Do I Do If My Vehicle Is Towed?

If your vehicle is towed, call the Pottsville Police Department non-emergency number at 570-628-3792. They will provide information on where you can retrieve your vehicle. All expenses associated with the removal of your vehicle are the responsibility of the owner, and must be paid to the authorized towing contractor before you may retrieve your vehicle.

How Long Will a Snow Emergency Last? How Will I Know When It's Over?

A Snow Emergency will last at least 12 hours; however, the length may vary depending on the severity of the storm. Residents with access to cable or the internet should watch Channel 15 (Community Access Channel) or visit www.pottsvillepa.gov for updates on the status of the Snow Emergency. Residents who do not have access to cable or the internet may listen to the radio for updates. Once the Mayor has declared an end to the Snow Emergency, it will be announced via the same process that the event was announced.

Please remember that although Snow Emergency Routes may be opened, residents are not permitted to park there until the Parking Ban/Snow Emergency has been terminated.

Is It True that I must remove snow from my property and that it's Illegal to Shovel or Plow Snow In a street?

Yes. The City ordinance reads as follows:

The owner or occupant of any dwelling house, store, building, or vacant lot and every person or agent having charge of such property shall, within the first 12 hours after every fall of snow or sleet or formation of ice upon the sidewalks, cause the same to be removed from the sidewalks to within one foot of the curbline opposite the entire frontage of such dwelling house, store, building, or vacant lot.

No person shall cast, discharge, throw, shovel or place or cause to be cast, discharged, thrown, shoveled, or placed into or onto the traveled portion of any street or alley, by any means whatsoever, any snow, slush, or ice.

Any person violating any of the provisions of this Article shall be fined not more than $600 and in default payment of the fine and costs, be imprisoned not more than 90 days. Quality of Life violations may also be issued.

How Can I Find Out More & Stay Up To Date on the Latest Snow Emergency Information?

  • Viewing the City web page: www.pottsvillepa.gov
  • Comcast Channel 15
  • List TV and Radio
  • For state highway information, contact PennDOT (610-566-0972) or the Interstate Winter road condition hotline (1-888-783-6783)
  • For police, fire, or medical emergencies, call 9-1-1

Original on pottsvillepa.gov →