The Roads and Parking Services team has navigated challenging conditions over the last 48 hours and are still going. Ottawa received between 10 to 15 centimetres of snow with higher amounts in localized areas throughout the city.
Forecast and conditions
There will be periods of light snow today with 2 centimetres possible. Windy conditions out of the west at 30 kilometres per hour gusting to 50 are expected causing blowing and drifting snow in open areas. Cold temperatures return today with a high of minus 9 and a wind chill of minus 20.
Travel remains difficult, surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may be snow covered. Colder temperatures are expected overnight, tomorrow and into the weekend creating icy and slippery conditions. Residents are reminded to exercise extreme caution by adjusting to the conditions of the transportation network.
Our response
The Roads and Parking Services team has been working nonstop all night. Snow continued through the overnight into the earlier hours of the morning and as a result, crews transitioned into residential neighborhoods to clear the streets later than expected overnight. In the rural areas, blowing snow has been challenging and slowed operations down, but rest assured, the team is hard at work and will continue through the day.
Priority road network is in good condition and sidewalks continue to be our priority today. The dayshift has picked up right where the nightshift left off to complete any remaining work in the residential areas and will focus on cleaning up any problem areas such as bus stops, crosswalks, intersections, pedestrian islands, corners and cul de sacs.
We are asking for patience today. This was the first major event of the season and residential plow run for some areas, and operations are taking longer than normal.
Winter Weather Parking Ban Lifted
The Winter Weather Parking Ban was lifted at 7 am this morning. Residents are reminded to sign up for the Winter Weather Parking Ban e-alerts(link is external) to stay up to date on upcoming winter parking restrictions.
You can continue supporting our operations by finding off-street parking options. If you can, please ask a friend or neighbour if you can 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.
Next steps
Roads and Parking Services will continue to monitor this system and the transportation network throughout the day and overnight. Crews have been at it for over 48 hours, and they’re not done yet!
As we near the tail end of this system, this will serve as the final operational update for this winter event.
We would like to thank residents for their patience and support as we complete our operations.
Please continue to travel with care today.
