Chicago snow plow tracker gets an upgrade

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The city of Chicago will launch a new and improved online tool to track snow plows this winter, just in time for the snow weather forecasters are expecting in the area this weekend.

The city is gearing up to clean up any mess the weekend weather may leave behind.

ChicagoShovels.org, which allows people to track snow removal operations in real-time, was launched in 2012. An upgrade to the website is expected to be announced on Friday.

The city activates its plow-tracking feature during major snow events once the snow has stopped falling. The tool allows residents and commuters to follow the plows as they clear major streets and move onto neighborhood streets.

This year, the city is making the map larger and improving the design of the snow icon. People will be able to see which direction the plows are going in real time and see if one is headed their way.

Check out other ways to monitor snow removal in Chicago on the city's website.