Special Edition Newsletter - Feb. 12, 2025

A Message from Councillor King

Dear Residents:

This is a special edition of my weekly newsletter due to the incoming weather system that is expected to bring 30 to 40 centimetres of snow to the Nation's Capital, beginning this evening and continuing until tomorrow afternoon, Feb. 13. Non-essential travel during this time should be avoided. Anyone who must travel during this event is asked to plan ahead and to give themselves extra travel time.

Environment Canada has issued a Winter Storm Warning, and effective immediately, the City of Ottawa is declaring a Significant Weather Event that will remain in effect until further notice. 

A Significant Weather Event has been declared

A Significant Weather Event (SWE) is declared when Environment Canada issues a Weather Hazard when weather that is either occurring or approaching has the potential to pose significant danger to users of Ottawa’s transportation network. The intent of declaring a SWE is to notify the public that because of the forecast and/or current weather conditions, it will take longer than usual to restore the transportation network to expected conditions and that caution is to be exercised when using sidewalks, roads, and the winter cycling network. For more information about the Significant Weather Events program, please visit Ottawa.ca.

Forecast and Conditions

Snow is expected to start this evening and intensify overnight with the heaviest snow expected to fall Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Peak snowfall rates are expected to exceed 5 centimetres per hour with 30 to 40 centimetres forecasted before gradually tapering off on Thursday  afternoon. Winds will be up to 30 kilometres per hour, gusting to 50, causing blowing and drifting snow in open areas.

Travel should be avoided as rapidly accumulating snow will make conditions on the transportation network difficult to navigate and road closures are possible.

The City's Response

Once accumulation begins, all resources from Roads and Parking Services will be deployed and crews will focus on treating and clearing sidewalks, priority roads, bus routes, the Transitway and the winter cycling network. Parks Maintenance staff will also be out in full force, clearing City facility parking lots with a priority on Fire and Paramedic stations as well as lots serving recreation centres.

Snow clearing and treating operations will take longer than usual. Accumulation on the transportation network will be heavy and wet, and sidewalks, roads and the winter cycling network will be covered with snow. This is not your typical storm, and staff anticipate that multiple passes will be required to clear and treat these conditions. Given the amount of snow expected, some residents may find it challenging to get out of their communities until crews have been able to clear the residential sidewalks and streets.

Some areas of the region will experience significant blowing and drifting snow, which makes it difficult for operators to navigate. Please be patient, as it will take time to get through the transportation network, but rest assured, crews will be hard at work. 

Back-to-back daytime parking bans are being called

There will be two back-to-back Winter Weather Parking Bans called. 

• The first will be in effect from 10 am to 7 pm on Thursday, February 13.
• The second will be in effect from 10 am to 7 pm on Friday, February 14.

These two back-to-back winter weather parking bans are essential for the support of winter operations. Should the forecast shift and underperform, the second ban may be called off.

During this time, all vehicles must be removed from the roadway - unless you have an eligible parking permit or are accessing parking in our exempted commercial main streets. Though eligible parking permit holders are exempt, we encourage those who can to please try to find alternate parking during this time to prevent your vehicle from being snowed in. The City of Ottawa has several parking lots available for residents to park during a parking ban. Vehicles may remain parked at these sites for the duration of the ban and must be removed after the City announces that the ban has been lifted. Information on all parking options during a winter weather parking ban is available on Ottawa.ca/winterparking. 

Residents can stay in the know about City winter weather parking bans by signing up for e-alerts at Ottawa.ca, or by downloading the City of Ottawa app.

Resident Support is Needed

• Safety is a priority for Roads and Parking Services. They will be out in full force working to keep Ottawa’s sidewalks, roads and the winter cycling network treated and clear. Conditions will be hazardous and non-essential travel should be avoided. For those who must travel, please give yourself extra time and adjust to the conditions of the transportation network.
• Flashing blue lights means crews are hard at work. If you see a sidewalk plow approaching, please step aside into an open driveway. Always remember to stay at least 3 car lengths behind our vehicles - please never pass City vehicles.
• There is no need to create a service request for routine snow clearing. Staff are on the job and the efforts of City staff are currently needed out in the community. Service requests should only be created for emergencies.
• Please place garbage, recycling, and organic collection bins in your driveway and not on the road or sidewalks. Residents can sign up to receive reminders and service alerts for their waste collection day by email or phone call at ottawa.ca/CollectionCalendar or can download the Ottawa Collection Calendar mobile app for Apple and Android devices to confirm their collection day.
• When the winter weather parking ban is not in effect, you can support staff operations by finding off-street parking options. If you can, please ask a friend or neighbour to share their laneway. When vehicles are removed from City streets, the Roads and Parking Services team can clear snow efficiently to create a wide-open roadway.
• Don't forget to keep your natural gas meter and appliance vents clear of snow and ice, including the path leading to them. This will prevent dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home.

Severe Storm Schedule for buses in effect beginning February 13

A Severe Storm Schedule for buses is implemented on weekdays when 31 centimetres or more of snow is predicted to fall or under other severe weather conditions. Further to the communications sent to Mayor and Members of Council by the Public Works department, there is a significant weather event that is forecasted to result in snow accumulations of up to 40 centimetres. Due to these severe conditions, a Severe Storm Schedule is being implemented. This is the first time a Severe Storm Schedule has been implemented in the city since the plan was introduced in 2022.  

What this means for customers starting on Thursday, February 13:

• Bus service will follow a reduced schedule in order to provide safer and more reliable service during the winter storm and to allow the entire network to recover more quickly. 
• Most routes in the network will be affected by these schedule adjustments. Many routes will have reduced frequencies and modified trip times, and select routes will not run.
• Customers are strongly encouraged to use the Travel Planner, double-check their route before they travel and expect delays.
• Many articulated buses will be replaced with 40-foot and double-decker buses to improve service reliability.  
• O-Train and Para Transpo service levels will not be reduced, but customers should still plan ahead, expect delays and exercise increased caution when boarding and exiting vehicles and at bus stops and station platforms.

OC Transpo is informing customers of bus schedule changes due to severe weather through regular updates on all customer communication channels, including octranspo.com, the 560560 text service, a public service announcement, social media posts and signage at bus stops. Customers can also use OC Transpo’s Travel Planner to see how their trip will change while the Severe Storm Schedule is in effect.

Further information about OC Transpo's Severe Storm Schedule is found on octranspo.com.

Storm Preparedness Resources

Are you ready? For emergency preparedness kit checklists, please visit ottawa.ca.

Cold Weather Resources

• Get advice and support:
  • Call 2-1-1 to reach Community Navigation of Eastern Ontario (CNEO). CNEO provides social services assistance (e.g., accessing warm clothing, contacts for community outreach services)
  • Call 3-1-1 for information and assistance on helping someone get out of the cold, including transportation to shelter.
  • Call 8-1-1 Health Connect Ontario for non-emergency medical advice such as concerns about mental health and wanting to speak with a professional.
  • Call 9-1-1 for a medical emergency such as frostbite or hypothermia.
• Visit www.OttawaPublicHealth.ca/ColdWeather to find information on cold weather and resources in our community, including an interactive map of Places to Warm Up in Ottawa.
• Visit www.cneo-nceo.ca/publications-and-lists to find CNEO’s List of Out of the Cold locations (Ottawa) 2024/2025. CNEO also has local social service and support information.

Know Who to Call

No one wants to be in a collision, but they happen anyway. Do you know what to do if you’ve been in a collision? ottawapolice.ca

Updates will be shared on my Facebook page, my Ward 13 X account and on my website. If you require assistance or information, please reach out to my office by emailing [email protected] or calling 613-580-2483.