Central Missouri is under a Winter Storm Watch through Friday afternoon, Jan. 1, 2021, and an area city’s government reminds citizens about regulations.

A news release from the city of Sedalia says the National Weather Service’s forecast predicts a chance for ice up to three-tenths of an inch and snow between 1 and 3 inches, which could impact roadways and other hard surfaces, such as sidewalks and driveways.

The City of Sedalia’s Public Works Department wants to remind residents not to park along Emergency Snow Routes during snow emergencies.

When more than 2 inches of snow, sleet and/or ice is expected within a 24-hour period, the city declares a snow emergency, and the Emergency Snow Routes are put into effect. Parking is prohibited along Emergency Snow Routes once the snow emergency occurs.

Emergency Snow Routes help improve traffic flow after a snowstorm or significant icing by declaring a parking ban along the designated routes to expedite snow or ice clearing. The Street Department works to keep these designated streets as clear as possible to allow for emergency vehicle use.

During 2020, the City has been repairing and replacing sidewalks in the area between South Ohio and South Park Avenues and West Second and Seventh Streets. Residents and businesses in this area having new concrete sidewalks should not use salt on the new concrete surface for removal of ice and snow. Salt can damage concrete by causing corrosion to occur under the surface, leading to discolored, cracked and crumbling concrete.

Especially, this first winter for areas with new concrete, the Public Works Department encourages residents and businesses to use sand when necessary to increase traction, as it will not cause damage to the new concrete surface.