Snow is coming to Winnipeg and the city, in anticipation of getting it cleared as soon as possible, has put a parking ban in place.

Starting tonight, parking will be prohibited on all declared snow routes between midnight and 7 a.m.

Vehicles parked in violation of the ban will get a $100 ticket ($50 if paid early) and could be towed. The ban will be in place until snow clearing is completed.

The city is preparing to send out 400-450 pieces of heavy equipment for the snow-clearing operation, which will begin on main routes, bus routes and collector streets.

A residential parking ban will be called for later this week, so crews can turn their attention to plowing residential streets.

The forecast is calling for five to 10 centimetres of snow in Winnipeg by the day's end.

Priority 1 streets (regional) – Grader plow operations will commence at 7 p.m. this evening and will continue through to completion, and salting operations will continue throughout the day today.

Priority 2 street (collector/bus routes) – Maintenance sanding will take place at priority locations. Grader plowing operations will begin on this network when Priority 1 operations are complete.

Priority 3 streets (residential) – Crews will be sanding P3 streets where required. Upon completion of the P1 and P2 network operation, a residential parking ban will be called later this week. Dates and times will be announced on Wednesday.

Priority 1, 2 and 3 sidewalks – A full sidewalk plowing operation of the P1, P2 and P3 sidewalk network will begin this evening at 7 p.m.

Back lanes – Lane clearing will begin Wednesday at 7 a.m.

The cost of a full city-wide snow clearing operation, including a residential street snow clearing operation, is expected to cost $6 million to $8 million.

To find out if a declared snow route parking ban is in place, check the city's Know Your Zone website page (there is a link at left of this pag), or contact the city's information line by phone at 311 or by email at 311@winnipeg.ca.