Boston snow emergency goes into effect at 6 p.m., and you know what that means

Mayor Walsh has declared a Boston snow emergency that goes into effect at 6 p.m., so get those cones, broken wicker chairs and other detritus ready to save your parking space.

Most immediately, that means parking is banned on all snow-emergency routes in the city. But after the snow stops, it means anybody who shovels out a space gets to keep it marked off for up to 48 hours after Walsh declares the snow emergency over - except in the South End, where space saving is never legally allowed, no matter how many people do it anyway.

A series of garages across the denser neighborhoods of the city will offer discount parking. The city has a Web page that lists both the garages and designated snow-emergency routes.

Also: Property owners have to clear the sidewalk in front of their property or risk a fine.

In addition to parking issues, the declaration also means that city food-distribution sites - and at leas two Covid-19 testing sites - will be shut tomorrow (more info on testing).

Also canceled: Trash and recycling pickup. Residents with Thursday or Friday pickup will have it delayed a day.

Kids? You'll still have online school, but for a school schedule shortened by 2 1/2 hours. In-person school is canceled for those students who had returned to classes of late, so they'll have to fire up the Chromebooks again.