Forecast and conditions
Environment Canada has issued a Weather Advisory for the Ottawa region. Snow is expected to begin this afternoon and continue into Tuesday morning with 10 to 15 centimetres possible. Snow will be heavy at times this evening through to tonight and is expected to taper off to flurries early Tuesday morning with a risk of freezing drizzle possible. There remains some uncertainty with how this winter storm is tracking and where the heaviest snow accumulation will land.
Given the uncertainty of this system and the start of holiday festivities is upon us, we have decided not to call a Winter Weather Parking Ban. 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.
Accumulating snow 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 snow cover and icy conditions. If you are travelling, please exercise extreme caution by adjusting to the conditions of the transportation network.
Our response
The Roads and Parking Services team is ready! We have spent the weekend getting the equipment prepared and salt domes filled. All available resources will be deployed.
Our supervisors will be monitoring how this system tracks and the conditions of the transportation network this afternoon, through the evening and overnight, and crews will be deployed once accumulation begins. Our 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.
We are asking for your patience. Operations may take longer than usual as cold temperatures make it difficult for crews to clear snow and ice from the transportation network and at times, their visibility may be reduced due to heavy snow.
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.
- 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.
Next steps
Roads and Parking Services will continue to monitor this system and the transportation network over the next 24 hours and beyond.
