First-time Minneapolitans should make sure keep an ear out for snow emergency declarations this winter if you don't want to have to bail your car out of the city impound lot. Once the city declares a snow emergency, many local news outlets—including Patch—will post the information. Alternately, you can check the City of Minneapolis website, or sign up for the city's snow emergency email or text-message alerts.

When a snow emergency is in effect, special parking restrictions apply. More information about parking restrictions is available from these iPhone and Android aps, the city's online parking rules lookup tool, and from the guide above, published by the City of Minneapolis.

While the temperature turns cold, though, keep an eye out for the health of your pets and your car. Southwest Minneapolis' Curtis Johnson offers tips for keeping dogs safe in the snow and cold, while our Patch Pros offer some advice on winterizing your car.

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