MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Department of Transportation crews will be working 12-hour shifts to clear the roads starting at midnight, according to the department.
Officials said that ahead of the storm, they are working to ensure all of MnDOT's vehicles are ready for the roads.
Crews will be dealing with tricky conditions including wind, snow, and brutally cold temperatures.
It will also take longer for salt, brine and other chemicals to take effect.
"I want drivers to be ready for that extra impact," said MnDOT spokesperson Anne Meyer. "It might take a little bit while longer for our crews to get roads back in the clear because of that cold air. And then of course the wind. The wind is one of those factors that really does change the game a little bit, we're gonna see blowing snow coming back on the roadway. So it's going to prolong our cleaning efforts."
Local shelters are also busy preparing for the storm.
The Salvation Army's Harbor Light Center has squeezed in a few beds in the overflow section because the organization's leadership didn't want to turn people away.
Aside from the shelter beds the center provides at that location, for the first time this season it will convert its seven Twin Cities service centers into warming centers.
Centers typically do this when the wind chill drops below zero. Salvation Army Captain Dan Simmons leads the Noble Worship and Service Center.
"We often deal with people who are already in difficult situations," said Simmons. "We do get our team ready to receive and give a bit of extra supplies."
According to Hennepin County, there's 964 shelter beds available. Earlier in the week, 50 beds were open overnight.
"With input from people with lived experience, Hennepin County has worked in recent years to identify and fill system gaps – the result is a structure that provides uninterrupted 24/7 safe space for people experiencing homelessness," said a county spokesperson. "(Seventy-five percent) of county-contracted adult shelters and 100% of county-contracted family shelters now are accessible all day, every day, and we work with a network of public and private sector partners that open their spaces to provide spaces where people can go without the expectation of spending money."
Plumbing and HVAC companies are also hard at work preparing homes for the cold.
Blue Yeti Services said it has seen some homeowners procrastinating because of the warmer weather. The organization recommends that you set your thermostat correctly, change your filters and ensure your furnace is working properly. It also said it's also important to bleed your radiator valves.
"Make sure your irrigation and your hose bibs are winterized," said Emily Black, co-owner of Blue Yeti Services. "Make sure the water is turned off. A lot of people will also cover their hose bib. You want to prevent frozen pipes in the winter because it can actually do a lot of damage to your home."
Watch more local news:
Watch the latest local news from the Twin Cities and across Minnesota in our YouTube playlist: