PREDICTED SNOW STORM KIND OF MORE OF A RAINY MESS TODAY.

BUT DON'T WORRY, YOU MAY BE SEEING SOME SLUSHY SNOW OUTSIDE RIGHT NOW AND WE CAN EXPECT MORE OF THE WHITE STUFF LATER IN THE WEEK WHEN IT COMES TO SHOW AND SNOW IN CHICAGO, YOU CAN BANK ON IT.

SEE WHAT WE DID THERE.

AND WITH SNOW IN CHICAGO COMES PARKING HEADACHES, WHICH OF COURSE MEANS THE RETURN OF DIBS.

WHAT EXACTLY IS WHEN DID IT START AND IS IT EVEN LEGAL?

>> THOSE ARE AMONG THE QUESTIONS WE TAKE ON IN THE LATEST EDITION OF OUR AWARD-WINNING SERIES W T TW NEWS EXPLAINS.

HERE'S ERICA GUNDERSON.

>> EVERY WINTER CHICAGO STANDS DIVIDED AROUND A PRACTICE COMMONLY KNOWN AS DIPS WHEN CAR OWNERS USE JANKY HOUSEHOLD OBJECTS RESERVE THEIR PRECIOUS SHOVELED OUT PARKING SPACES.

THE IDEA BEHIND IT IS THAT TAKING YOUR CAR OUT FROM THE SNOW YOU EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS TO THE SPOT?

>> SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO KIDS IN PART OF HIS BASE SOMEONE ELSE'S MARK WITH FOLDING CHAIR, DUBIOUSLY ACQUIRED TRAFFIC CONES FOR A LATE GEORGIAN.

HAVE TO WAIT.

CYBORG.

THERE'S AN IMPLICIT THREATS TO YOUR CAR WILL PAY THE PRICE FOR A SO HOW DID WELL, CHICAGO IS AMONG A HANDFUL OF AMERICAN CITIES THAT HAVE THE CONDITIONS TO CREATE A PERFECT STORM FOR WINTER PARK.

I PART OWNERSHIP, DENSE URBAN ENVIRONMENT AND THE SNOWY CLIMATE START SNOWFALLS IN 1967, 1979.

WERE SO CATASTROPHIC TO CHICAGO STREET AND SHOVELERS BACKS THAT FOLKS BEGIN DEFENDING THEIR SPOTS WITH WHATEVER JUNK WAS HAND SINCE THEN CALLING OUT THE OLD MILK CRATES OR PATIO FURNITURE AFTER A HEFTY SNOWFALL HAS BECOME MORE LA STANDARD PRACTICE IN CHICAGO.

MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF OTHERS WHO FIND THE PRACTICE PUTTING A LITTLE A NEIGHBOR.

BE ARE THE BIGGEST CITY TO CALLED WE'RE NOT THE ONLY IN PITTSBURGH.

IT'S KNOWN AS THE PITTSBURGH PARKING THEY ALSO DO IT IN BOSTON THE DAY PROBABLY CALL IT THE PACKING AND IF THE TERM WITH CHICAGO TRIBUNE COLUMNIST JOHN KASS POINT IN 1999, ISN'T CUTE ENOUGH FOR IN PHILADELPHIA.

COLLEGE >> BOTTOM LINE IS DID HE GO IN CHICAGO?

COME IT'S NOT.

OF COURSE IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT.

BUT WHEN MAYOR RICHARD DALEY WAS ASKED HIS THOUGHTS ON IN 2001, HE ECHOED THE FEELINGS OF MANY CHICAGOANS.

>> IF SOMEONE SPENDS ALL HER TIME TO GET CAR WITH DRIVE INTO SO CONSIDER THAT FAIR WARNING.

CHICAGO UNTIL A CITY LEADER HAS ENOUGH SNOWBALLS, ENFORCE A NO DIPS POLICY.

>> PARK IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S DID SPOT LOOK YOUR OWN RISK.

>> I LOVE HEARING WHAT OTHER CITIES CALL IT.

SAVES THESE.

IF YOU'RE UPSET, YOU MISSED A CHANCE TO SHOVEL OUT A SPOT TODAY.

YOU'RE IN LUCK.

SNOW IS BACK IN THE FORECAST ON FRIDAY AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE IN THE W T TW NEWS EXPLAINS SERIES WE TACKLE YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS LIKE WHY CHICAGO'S