Who is ready to welcome an Alberta Clipper to the Capital today? The Roads and Parking Services team, of course! Brace yourselves, Ottawa, and get your shovels ready; we’ve got another system headed our way.
Forecast and conditions
Environment Canada has issued a Snowfall Warning for the Ottawa region. A significant snowfall is expected late this afternoon through Saturday morning, with 15 centimetres possible. Snow will be heavy at times, with the heaviest snowfall expected this evening into the overnight. The wind will be 20 kilometres per hour, becoming light before morning and the temperature is expected to rise to zero with another 2 to 4 centimetres possible. There is also a risk of freezing rain early in the morning.
Heavy snowfall could make travel difficult, and visibility may be suddenly reduced at times. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. If you are travelling, please exercise extreme caution by adjusting to the conditions of the transportation network.
The City's response
The Roads and Parking Services team is ready, and all available resources will be deployed. Supervisors will be monitoring how this system tracks and the conditions of the transportation network this evening and overnight, and crews will be deployed once accumulation begins. The City's focus will be on clearing and treating sidewalks, roads, bus routes, the Transitway and the winter cycling network. Given the amount of precipitation 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.
Snow removal operations will be paused
Since February 17, the Roads and Parking Services team has been working day and night on snow removal operations across the City. The team continues to focus on Business Improvement Areas, business districts, arterial and collector roads, and school zones. Crews have also been working on urban residential streets, bridge decks and addressing sightline concerns at intersections and corners. To date the team has removed 1,138,546 cubic metres of snow. That’s like filling the RedBlacks stadium at TD Place to the top of the stands four times!
Resources dedicated to removing snowbanks will be reallocated to respond to this weather event and once the transportation network is restored, crews will be able to return to snow removal operations. With an exception in the Urban Area and some select areas throughout the city where crews will continue snow removal throughout the storm and over the weekend.
A daytime parking ban is being called
A Winter Weather Parking Ban will be in effect tomorrow Saturday, March 1 from 10 am to 7 pm. When vehicles are removed from our streets, the Roads and Parking Services team can clear snow efficiently to create a wide-open roadway.
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, 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 our winter weather parking bans by signing up for e-alerts at Ottawa.ca, or by downloading the City of Ottawa app.
Resident support is required
- Flashing blue lights means we 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 our vehicles.
- There is no need to create a service request for routine snow clearing. We are on the job and our efforts are currently needed out in the community; service requests should only be created for emergencies.
- Become a Snow Angel! Support your community by helping someone you know who is elderly or has a disability, by clearing snow or ice from their driveway, steps or walkway. More information on the Snow Angel Program is available on Ottawa.ca.
Next steps
Roads and Parking Services will continue to monitor this system and the transportation network over the next 24 hours and beyond.
Stay safe and travel with care
