Let me tell you somethin’, Ottawa. If you didn't come for a winter party, don't bother knockin' on our door. Mother Nature has a lion in her pocket, and oh boy, he is ready to roar! The Roads and Parking services team has been roaring all season long and they are knocking! Here we go again, more snow is on the way.
Forecast
Partly cloudy conditions, with a chance of flurries early this evening. West winds are forecast at 20 kilometres per hour, gusting to 40, becoming light later tonight. The low is forecast at minus 13, with a wind chill near minus 20.
Periods of snow are expected to begin near noon tomorrow and continue through the overnight hours with 5 to 10 centimetres possible. Wind up to 15 kilometres per hour with a daytime high of minus 7 and overnight low of minus 9.
Our response
The Roads and Parking Services team is ready! Our supervisors will be monitoring how this system tracks and the conditions of the transportation network tomorrow throughout the day, evening and overnight. Once accumulation begins, all available resources will be deployed. Our focus will be on clearing and treating sidewalks, priority roads, bus routes, the Transitway and the winter cycling network. Parks Maintenance will also be out clearing and treating emergency service stations, libraries and community centers as well as some City facility parking lots.
In advance of this system moving into the region, the team’s focus today and tonight is snow removal. Crews have also been in some residential neighbourhoods cleaning up streets in localized areas where yesterday’s snow squalls and blowing snow were more intense.
Please be patient as the team works to balance multiple operational priorities while also remaining prepared to respond to the weather event. Weather conditions may impact our operations, particularly in the rural areas where blowing and drifting snow has been a challenge. Crews will adjust accordingly but it may take longer than usual to get through the transportation network.
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.
- You can support our 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 our streets, the Roads and Parking Services team can clear snow efficiently to create a wide-open roadway.
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Please place garbage, recycling, and organic collection bins in your driveway and not on the road or sidewalks. Residents can sign up to receive City of Ottawa 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(link is external) and Android(link is external) devices to confirm their collection day.
- Please note: Although recycling collection will still appear in the weekly Ottawa Waste Collection Reminder from the City of Ottawa, it is now managed by the Province of Ontario. If residents experience any issues with recycling collection, they can contact Miller Waste at 1-888-852-2374 or [email protected](link opens email application). General questions about the recycling program can be directed to Circular Materials(link is external).
Next steps
Roads and Parking Services will continue to monitor the forecast and the transportation network over the next 24 hours, as weather advisories may be issued as the event draws closer.
On Sunday, the Roads and Parking Services team began selective snow removal operations throughout the city. A message on the team’s progress and an update on our accomplishments and operational plans will be provided later this week.
Please travel with care.
