A combination of factors has prompted St. Paul to declare a snow emergency in an effort to clear its streets from curb to curb.

The snow emergency took effect at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

The city cited several reasons for calling the snow emergency:

• Several modest snowfalls have left behind several inches in recent days.

• Moderating temperatures for the next few days should loosen the compacted snow on residential streets.

• Parking bans will get cars out of the way and minimize the number of ridges of snow left on roads by the plows. These snow ridges can create problems for traffic once they freeze.

For more information, call 651-266-PLOW (7569) or visit www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=905.

Paul Walsh