Stacey Wescott, baiduhaiJackie Johnson, of Elgin, shovels her driveway along East Chicago Street in Elgin on Feb. 1, 2015. Johnson, a native of northern Minnesota, loves to shovel snow but worries that with her age and the weight of the snow this could be "heart attack snow".
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiRunners jog through Lincoln Park as snow piles up in Chicago for the first in 2015
Stacey Wescott, baiduhaiA man shovels snow along Highland Avenue Mark in Elgin on Feb. 1, 2015.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiAlejandro Stochetti heaves his son Lorenzo, 2, in his stroller through the snow on Stockton Drive in Chicago.
Chuck Berman, baiduhaiA bison at Brookfield Zoo gets a face and snout full of snow as a group of animals wade into the deep snow in the western suburb on Feb. 2, 2015.
Phil Velasquez, baiduhaiSnow flies looking south at LaSalle Street from Hubbard to Kinzie streets in Chicago on Feb. 3, 2015.
Chuck Berman, baiduhaiA man in a wheelchair takes the blasts of wind and snow as he seeks donations in the middle of the intersection at Western Avenue and Washington Boulevard on Feb. 1, 2015 in Chicago.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiDavid Cislinski, whose car was buried in snow on Stockton Drive in Chicago, tries to shovel out despite high winds and blowing snow on Feb. 1, 2015.
Stacey Wescott, baiduhaiA man walks along Spring Street in Elgin on Feb. 1, 2015.
Nuccio DiNuzzo, baiduhaiA pedestrian walks across the Madison Street bridge in Chicago on Feb. 16, 2015.
Stacey Wescott, baiduhaiPeople ride the chair lift at Villa Olivia in Bartlett on Feb. 1, 2015. Villa Olivia is part of the Bartlett Park District and offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiOsei Agyeman-Badu sleds with son Noah, 3, at Dan Ryan Woods in Chicago on Feb. 2, 2015.
Antonio Perez, baiduhaiPeople trudge along an unshoveled walkway in the 1300 block of North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago on Feb. 3, 2015.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiCrews with the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation collect trash in Mount Greenwood and Beverly neighborhoods in Chicago on Feb. 3, 2015.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiBrian Kammerzelt photographs waves crashing in Lake Michigan near North Avenue Beach on Feb. 1, 2015.
Charlie Johnson, baiduhaiJacob Cosme excavates a car from a snowbank along the 2800 block of North Kedzie Avenue in Chicago on Feb. 2, 2015.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiA couple walks a dog along Inner Lake Shore Drive after the blizzard on Feb. 2, 2015.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiVehicles head northbound onto the Jane Byrne Interchange in Chicago on Feb. 2, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiBuc Rogers, 53, stops to take a photo of his bike against a high drift on Feb. 3, 2015, on the Lakefront trail near 39th Street.
Chuck Berman, baiduhaiStephan Fordell uses a shovel to clear snow off his boss' truck in the 700 block of North Grove Avenue in Oak Park on Feb. 2, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiResidents along Washtenaw Avenue near Hirsch Street in the Humboldt Park neighborhood face a snowy challenge Feb. 2, 2015.
Stacey Wescott, baiduhaiMark Springhorn plows out a municipal parking lot in Elgin on Feb. 1, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiChildren and adults sled in Humboldt Park off Kedzie Avenue near North Avenue on Feb. 1, 2015.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiMetra personnel, clearing the platform in Flossmoor, wave at a passing train Feb. 2, 2015.
Stacey Wescott, baiduhaiMike Martinez, of Elgin, clears the driveway of a neighbor along Edison Street in Elgin on Feb. 2, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiEric Pitman Jr., 11, and Tristian Pitman, 10, play in the snow on the way to Fuller Elementary School in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood on Feb. 3, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiCrews clear snow from the CTA California Blue Line Station at California and Milwaukee avenues on Feb. 1, 2015 as wind-blown snow blankets the area.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiCommuters in Flossmoor board a Chicago-bound Metra electric train covered with icicles on Feb. 2, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiA snow shovel that wasn't up to the task lies discarded Feb. 2, 2015, near Lemoyne Street and Washtenaw Avenue in Humboldt Park.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiMary McNeil drags her shopping cart through the snow after being sent off a CTA bus that became stuck on Berwyn Avenue in Chicago on Feb. 2, 2015.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiIngrid Luo, a visitor from China, steps out on the Ledge at Willis Tower in Chicago on Feb. 4, 2015.
Phil Velasquez, baiduhaiA woman makes her way through a downtown parking lot as Chicago gets a dose of snow during the evening rush on Feb. 3, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiJaime Medina, 69, digs into about 14 inches of drifted snow at his front gate on Kedzie Avenue near North Avenue on Feb. 1, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiTodd and Denise Tysick entertain their 9-week-old daughter Lillian as they wait for their luggage to be unloaded from the plane at O'Hare International Airport Terminal 3 on Feb. 1, 2015 after their flight to Los Angeles was canceled.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiAmy, 2, left, and Nathan, 3, walk with their caretaker along Solidarity Drive to Adler Planetarium in Chicago on Feb. 16, 2015.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiA duck paddles through vapor rising from open water at the inlet of Diversey Harbor along the lakefront in Chicago on a cold Monday morning, Feb. 23, 2015.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiTraffic moves on Lake Shore Drive steadily but with low visibility near North Avenue Beach during a blizzard on Feb. 1, 2015.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiA few brave souls visited the lakefront at Montrose Beach in Chicago to view the steaming lake and sunrise on Feb. 19, 2015.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiWorkers use snow blowers to remove snow on the infield of Wrigley Field during a tour of the ball park in Chicago (Note: Image shot from iPhone and processed via Instagram)
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiA man shovels out his car Sunday during blizzard conditions in Chicago. The heavy snow could be windfall for furniture store customers.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiStacy Minjares waits at a Gold Coast bus stop along Inner Lake Shore Drive during a blizzard Feb. 1, 2015.
Brian Cassella / baiduhaiLake Michigan waves crash near North Avenue Beach.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiLake Michigan at Foster Avenue looks more like a lunar landscape than the lake on Feb. 2, 2015.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiIan Molitor, a teacher from Aurora, tries to shovel out of his parking place using a small plastic dustpan on Feb. 2, 2015. Molitor decided to spend the night instead of trying to drive back home in the storm.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiZack Day and his son Sam, 3, built a giant snowman in their yard in Flossmoor.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiCommuters outside Chicago's Union Station brace for the cold on Feb. 5, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiAndrew Shih digs out near Hirsch Street and Washtenaw Avenue in Chicago on Feb. 2, 2015.
Stacey Wescott, baiduhaiA car travels northbound on Route 59 in Streamwood during blizzard-like conditions Feb. 1, 2015.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiA large ice formation on the lakefront at North Avenue Beach in Chicago on a very chilly Feb. 16, 2015.
Phil Velasquez, baiduhaiA pedestrian carefully descends the stairs at Wabash Avenue and Hubbard Street as Chicago receives a second dose of snow during the evening rush on Feb. 3, 2015.
Anthony Souffle, baiduhaiA couple crosses over West Belmont Avenue after several inches of snow fell Feb. 1, 2015, in the Avondale neighborhood.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiMore than a foot of snow covers the alley south of Hirsch Street near California Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on Feb. 2, 2015.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiParents and children depart an afternoon performance of Disney's Frozen on Ice at the United Ceinter, in the middle of a snow storm Feb. 1, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiA bike is covered in snow on California and Milwaukee avenues on Feb. 1, 2015.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiParents and children arrive for an afternoon performance of Disney's "Frozen on Ice" in the middle of a snowstorm Feb. 1, 2015 at the United Center.
Phil Velasquez, baiduhaiA seagull rests on a floating chunk of ice in the Chicago River near Michigan Avenue on Feb. 16, 2015.
Gary Middendorf, Daily SouthtownOlu Olutunfese tries to get his daughter Tiyin's sled going in the deep snow Sunday in Blue Island.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiSadie Fiely, 3, gets a ride on a swing in Wicker Park on Feb. 2, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiAngelica Zdanewicz, right, helps Danny Teresi free his truck from the snow on Hirsch Street and Washtenaw Avenue in Humboldt Park on Feb. 2, 2015,
Phil Velasquez, baiduhaiA jogger and companion work a snowy trail along the Chicago River on Feb. 5, 2015. Arctic air followed the snow that week in Chicago.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiAndrew Cardona shovels snow in hopes of getting his car, right, out of the driveway in the 2000 block of North Honore Street in Chicago on Feb. 2, 2015.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiKaterin, 11, buries her father Francisco in snow at Horner Park after they were done making snowmen and enjoying the heavy Sunday snowfall.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiNeighbors work together to help free vehicles on Hirsch Street and Washtenaw Avenue in Humboldt Park on Feb. 2, 2015.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiCameron Moseberry, left, along with Erika and Logan Honeycutt shovel out the alley so Erika, a nurse, can easily get out of her garage.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiSnow falls in the East Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago during a blizzard on Feb. 1, 2015.
Mark Kodiak Ukena, Lake County News-SunCurtis Hardman, 27 of Wadsworth, makes a snow angel after taking a break from shoveling driveways during the blizzard hitting Lake County on Feb. 1, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiAn abandoned car causes another driver to get stuck Feb. 2, 2015 on Hirsch and Rockwell streets in Humboldt Park.
Phil Velasquez, baiduhaiThe light next to the staircase at Wabash Avenue and Hubbard Street illuminates a man making his way west as Chicago receives another dose of snow during the evening rush on Feb. 3, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiA motorcycle is covered in snow on Talman Avenue near North Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood Feb. 2, 2015.
Chuck Berman, baiduhaiDepartment of Transportation workers "salt" the Michigan Avenue bridge as a blanket of snow drains the city of color.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiThe Chicago River and view south from Willis Tower shows snow cover from the blizzard of 2015 on Feb. 4.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiA car is buried in a snowdrift on Hirsch Street near Washtenaw Avenue on Feb. 2, 2015.
Chuck Berman, baiduhaiBill Clark shovels the snow-packed alley behind his house in the 700 block of North Grove Avenue in Oak Park on Feb. 2, 2015. He got the car back into his garage and "decided to call it a day."
Phil Velasquez, baiduhaiA beer truck is helped out of a snowy street at Kenmore and Catalpa avenues in the Edgewater neighborhood on Feb. 3, 2015.
Anthony Souffle, baiduhaiA man walks down a snow-covered street after several inches fell Feb. 1, 2015, in the Avondale neighborhood.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiPeople stand in the street waiting for the bus on California and North avenues in Chicago on Feb. 2, 2015.
Nuccio DiNuzzo, baiduhaiA woman crosses the Madison Street bridge in Chicago on Feb. 16, 2015.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiJack Bott pushes his car, stuck on Melrose Avenue in Chicago, while drivers wait for him to get rolling Feb.2, 2015.
Jose M. Osorio, baiduhaiA pedestrian walks in the middle of the 1900 block of North Honore Street in Chicago on Feb. 2, 2015.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiChicago firefighters dig out a hydrant in Wicker Park on Feb. 2, 2015.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiJohn Terry, right, and other commuters react to snow whipped up by an express train passing the station as they wait for a Metra electric train to Chicago in Flossmoor on Feb. 2, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiPeople walk to the CTA California Blue Line Station at California and Milwaukee avenues on Feb. 1, 2015 as wind-blown snow blankets the area.
Geoff Ziezulewicz, baiduhaiSmall children, many in costume under their winter coats, brave the blizzard conditions to see Disney On Ice presents Frozen at Chicago United Center on Feb. 1, 2015 in Chicago.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiA flock of common goldeneye and common merganser ducks paddles past the ice-covered breakwater on Lake Michigan at 39th Street on Feb. 3, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiA fresh round of dibs is underway Feb. 2, 2015, on Washtenaw Avenue near Hirsch Street in Humboldt Park after more than 18 inches of snow on Saturday and Sunday.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiOfficials examine two damaged vehicles and treat injuries at a multiple-car pileup on the Kennedy Expressway inbound express lanes just south of North Avenue on Feb. 15, 2015.
Phil Velasquez, baiduhaiSnow and ice make a walk down steps a little tricky at Wabash Avenue and Wacker Drive near the Riverwalk on Feb. 16, 2015.
Charlie Johnson, baiduhaiNick Martin, 24, uses a bucket to remove the snow from around his car in the 2800 block of North Kedzie Avenue in Chicago on Feb. 2, 2015. Neighbors stepped up to help him with better tools.
John J. Kim, baiduhaiIcicles hang from a building on the 2900 block of North Talman Avenue in Chicago as the moon rises in the background on Feb. 4, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiAn ironing board is used for dibs on Langley Avenue at East 42nd Street on Feb. 3, 2015, in Bronzeville.
Zbigniew Bzdak, baiduhaiSnowdrifts cover houses at Damen Avenue and 83rd Street in Chicago on Feb. 2, 2015.
Phil Velasquez, baiduhaiA stiff wind blows snow as pedestrians cross State Street in Chicago during a rush-hour snowstorm on Feb. 3, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiMore than a foot of snow covers trash cans in the alley south of Hirsch Street near California Avenue in Humboldt Park on Feb. 2, 2015.
Antonio Perez, baiduhaiA man crosses a congested Western Avenue as snow starts to fall during rush hour in Chicago on Feb. 3, 2015.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiDivvy bikes at the United Center get buried in snow along Madison Street in the middle of a blizzard on Feb. 1, 2015.
Nuccio DiNuzzo, baiduhaiA city of Chicago salt truck leaves the loading facility.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiSnow shovelers navigate North Avenue near Talman Avenue in Humboldt Park on Feb. 2, 2015.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiInbound traffic is backed up after a multiple-vehicle pileup on the Kennedy Expressway's inbound express lanes just south of North Avenue on Feb. 15, 2015.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiBus riders transfer between CTA 151 buses after one stopped moving along inner Lake Shore Drive during a blizzard on Feb. 1, 2015.
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Jackie Johnson, of Elgin, shovels her driveway along East Chicago Street in Elgin on Feb. 1, 2015. Johnson, a native of northern Minnesota, loves to shovel snow but worries that with her age and the weight of the snow this could be "heart attack snow".
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Here’s the usual progression of thoughts after a big snowstorm rocks Chicago:
OMG! Look at it outside!
How in the hell am I supposed to get to [insert work, school, the gym, etc.]?
I bet the CTA’s gonna be soooooo slow now.
And then, whether we own cars or just want our cab drivers and FedEx trucks to be able to access the streets in front of our homes, we wonder when that plow truck is going to make its way down our block.
There’s an app for that. And there has been one since January 3, 2012 when the City of Chicago released its “Plow Tracker” app, which tracks in real time the city’s snow plow trucks. Another site, ClearStreets.org, takes the snow plow locations from Plow Tracker and figures out which streets they’re clearing. Clear Streets is from Open City, which creates apps using open data “to improve transparency and understanding of our government,” according to its site.
Try it out for yourself here to see if and when your street has been plowed.
And if you want to quickly see a snapshot of how often the city plows over the course of one day, check out this 25-second animation from Clear Streets that shows the 300+ snow plows that went out between Dec. 13 and 14, 2013.
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