Portage Streets and Sanitation

04/02/2026

Friday, April 3rd is an observed Holiday for the department Employees. The department will be closed. We wish everyone this Easter weekend a safe and happy occasion with family and friends. All Scheduled trash routes and services will be normal.

03/10/2026

Leaf Update

It has been a very difficult leaf pickup service with many interruptions with early and unending winter storm events. The department divided up our leaf crews. We have six crews out today. We are both servicing Zone One and Zone Five with leaf pickup. As long as weather conditions are favorable, the departments will continue leaf pickup.

03/10/2026

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Chicago/Romeoville IL
327 AM CDT Tue Mar 10 2026

ILZ003>006-008-010>013-019>021-023-032-033-039-103>108-INZ001-002- 010-011-019-110830- Winnebago-Boone-McHenry-Lake IL-Ogle-Lee-De Kalb-Kane-DuPage- La Salle-Kendall-Grundy-Kankakee-Livingston-Iroquois-Ford- Northern Cook-Central Cook-Southern Cook-Northern Will- Southern Will-Eastern Will-Lake

IN-Porter-Newton-Jasper-Benton-
327 AM CDT Tue Mar 10 2026 /427 AM EDT Tue Mar 10 2026/

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of north central
Illinois...northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.
DAY ONE...Today and Tonight.

Weather hazards expected...

Elevated Fog Risk this morning north of I-80.
Elevated Thunderstorm Risk...with an associated:
Level 3 of 5 Tornado Risk mainly near/south of I-80.
Level 3 of 5 Large Hail Risk...up to 2 inches in diameter.
Level 2 of 5 Damaging Wind Risk...up to 70 mph.
Elevated Flooding Risk.

DISCUSSION...

Areas of dense fog will continue through late this morning, mainly
north of I-80 and particularly near and west of the Fox Valley.

Severe thunderstorms will be possible this afternoon through this
evening. A front is expected to set up along or just south of the
Interstate 80 corridor, with large hail, damaging winds, and
tornadoes possible south of this front. North of this front, large
hail and localized damaging winds will be possible. The severe
weather threat may continue through tonight, particularly south of
I-80.

Locally heavy rainfall may occur late this afternoon through
early Wednesday morning and may lead to localized flash flooding.
DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Wednesday through Monday.

Wednesday morning...
Limited Thunderstorm Risk east of I-57 and south of I-80.

Thursday night and Friday...
Elevated Non Thunderstorm Wind Risk.

DISCUSSION...

A period of strong winds, potentially gusting over 45 mph, is
possible Thursday night into Friday.
SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotters will likely be needed today and this evening.

GENERAL STORM MOTION OF THE DAY:

Moving toward the east at 30 to 40 mph.

A frontal boundary will slowly move eastward and clear most of the eastern seaboard by Sunday. Showers and thunderstorms, some severe, will accompany this front alongside the threat of heavy rainfall; These threats may linger along the Gulf Coast states into early next week. Meanwhile, record spring...

02/19/2026

It has been a very difficult leaf pickup service with many interruptions with early and unending winter storm events. The department divided up our leaf crews. We have six crews out today. We are both servicing Zone Three and Zone Four with leaf pickup. As long as weather conditions are favorable, the departments will continue leaf pickup.

02/18/2026

We are officially moving into Zone 3 for leaf pickup beginning tomorrow.

02/10/2026

HAPPY PRESIDENTS DAY

Monday, February 16th is Presidents Day. City offices and Departments will be closed for this holiday.

All Trash Routes will be delayed by one day. Monday's Trash service will be on Tuesday. Tuesday's Trash service will be on Wednesday. Wednesday's Trash service will be on Thursday along with the Pre- scheduled bulk day. And Thursday's Trash service will be on Friday.

Please email [email protected] for any further questions or concerns. Enjoy the warmer weather temperatures this week.

And yes, we will begin leaf service as soon as the leaf piles thaw from being a frozen cluster. Once we begin, we will be finishing up Zone Two off of Old Porter route.

02/06/2026

Special Weather Statement

Action Recommended Avoid the subject event as per the instructions
Issued By Chicago - IL, US, National Weather Service

Affected Area Porter County

Description..MESSY TRAVEL POSSIBLE FOR PARTS OF FRIDAY MORNING COMMUTE...

A fast moving weather system will produce a short 3 to 5 hour period of accumulating snow late tonight into early Friday morning. While significant snowfall amounts are not expected, a burst of snow, with rates up to 1 inch per hour, could result in a period of slick travel due to snow covered roads early Friday morning. Accordingly, motorists are urged to plan for extra time to reach their destination Friday morning.

www.weather.gov

01/30/2026

WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM CST SATURDAY

* WHAT...Heavy lake effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations over 6 inches expected, mainly near and north of US Route 30. Isolated totals up to one foot are possible.

* WHERE...Lake IN and Porter Counties.

* WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 6 PM CST Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to nearly impossible at
times north of U.S. Route 30 with near white out conditions and
snowfall rates of 2 or more inches per hour under the most intense
portions of the band this evening into Saturday morning.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The main window for the heaviest snowfall is expected this evening through Saturday morning. Some breaks in the snowfall are possible as the snow band shifts back and forth over the area.

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01/30/2026

01/30/2026

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Chicago IL
302 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

Lake IN-Porter- Including the cities of Valparaiso, Gary, Merrillville,
Chesterton, Hammond, and Portage 302 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026
..WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 6 PM CST SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy lake effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations over 6 inches expected, mainly near and north of US Route 30. Isolated totals up to one foot are possible.

* WHERE...Lake IN and Porter Counties.

* WHEN...From 3 PM this afternoon to 6 PM CST Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to nearly impossible at
times north of U.S. Route 30 with near white out conditions and
snowfall rates of 2 or more inches per hour under the most intense portions of the band this evening into Saturday morning.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The main window for the heaviest snowfall is expected this evening through Saturday morning. Some breaks in the snowfall are possible as the snow band shifts back and forth over the area.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

During lake effect snow, the weather can vary from near white out
conditions in very heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away.
Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility, and road
conditions.

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions for
Indiana can be obtained at https://511in.org.

Monitor the latest forecasts for updates on this situation.

WWW.WEATHER.GOV

Another Arctic blast will surge south across the northern Plains Thursday night, crossing the Midwest and reaching the Gulf Coast Friday night. Confidence continues to increase for significant heavy snow across much of the Southern Appalachians, Carolinas, and southern Mid-Atlantic Friday into Sunda...

01/27/2026

Thanks for the Highlight from the Sky, Kewl Soundtrack!

01/26/2026

After some careful discussion with the Sanitation Department this morning, we have decided to move the garbage days back one day each this week like we do when there's a holiday on Monday. Like last week.

We apologize for any inconvenience, but we believe that this will ensure the best service and smoothest operations this week. This means Monday's pickups will be serviced on Tuesday. Tuesday's on Wednesday. Wednesday's on Thursday, and Thursday's on Friday.

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