As snow continues to cover Gary, city crews have been working around the clock to clear roads and prepare for more wintry weather. The conditions have already disrupted daily life, with the Gary Community School Corporation canceling classes on Monday because of unsafe streets.
The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory until 4 p.m. Monday, noting that a band of lake-effect snow will continue through midafternoon across parts of Northwest Indiana, creating hazardous travel conditions. Tonight’s low will be around 27 degrees.
For Tuesday, Veterans Day, forecasters predict a 30% chance of snow before noon, followed by clearing skies and a high near 40 degrees. Winds are expected from the south-southwest at 10 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph.
On Tuesday night, temperatures are expected to dip to around 36 degrees under partly cloudy skies, with west winds of 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph, according to the weather service.
City officials said Monday that 24 city trucks and four private contractors have been running “non-stop all night” to clear and salt the city’s main arterial streets. Crews have now begun moving onto secondary and residential roads.
Residents are encouraged to use the city’s 311 app to report snow-related concerns.
City activates winter weather plan
In the wake of Monday’s winter storm, the city of Gary has revealed the city’s 2025-2026 Winter Weather Plan, which details how Gary will respond to ongoing and future snow events, including road treatment, plowing schedules, parking regulations, and warming centers.
Here’s a breakdown of the city’s plans for this upcoming winter season.
Salt treatment
The city will apply salt to roads around the city when temperatures drop below 32°F.
Snow removal schedule
When there are 1 to 4 inches of snow, plows will be dispatched in waves throughout the city:
- Main Roads (meaning primary thoroughfares like Broadway and Fifth Avenue) within 24 hours
- Secondary Roads (meaning feeder streets like Melton Road and Lake Street) within 48 hours
- Residential side streets within 72 hours
Warming centers
When temperatures drop to 32 degrees or below, the city will open warming centers for residents seeking shelter:
- Monroe Smith Warming and Cooling Center, 4101 Washington St., is open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- The Calumet Township Multipurpose Center, located at 1900 W. 41st Ave., is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Brother’s Keeper’s, 2120 Broadway is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Parking regulations
When snow accumulation reaches 2 inches or more, vehicles must be removed from designated snow routes or risk being towed. The city said the restrictions apply to most major and secondary roads across Gary. Residents are encouraged to park on non-snow-route streets or in parking lots, and can find the full list of affected streets here.
What is a snow event?
After the weekend’s approaching snowfall, the city has broken down how and what each snow event can look like for the city:
- Minor Snow Event
- 2 to 4 inches of snow
- Snowplows will be dispatched, and parking will be prohibited on designated snow routes
- Moderate Snow Event
- 5 to 8 inches of snow
- Travel is strongly discouraged, and additional parking restrictions are enforced
- Heavy Snow Event
- 9 inches and above
- Travel is restricted to emergencies, and vehicles with four-wheel drive or snow tires are recommended. Parking bans will be strictly enforced.
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the city through the 311 app or its social media channels.