This weather system is slower than molasses in January. Wait—it is January, so we’ll have to give it some grace. Snowfall amounts varied across the city, but for the most part, the region received up to 4 centimetres of snow last night, and there’s more on the way.
Forecast and conditions
Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement for the Ottawa region. Bands of heavy snow are expected to impact the region this afternoon that could significantly reduce visibility. Local snowfall amounts near 5 centimetres. Southwest winds at 30 kilometres per hour, gusting to 50, causing blowing and drifting snow in open areas, as well as the risk for snow squalls this afternoon into the evening. Today’s high will be minus 3, but it will feel closer to minus 16 with the wind chill. Overnight, temperatures will drop to minus 14 with a wind chill of minus 22.
Residents are reminded to travel with caution and prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions. The transportation network will be difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.
Our response
Supervisors continue to monitor conditions across the transportation network this afternoon, evening, and overnight, and will respond accordingly as flurries move through the region. The team is working around the clock to clean up the sidewalks, priority roads and the winter cycling network as well as any problem areas such as bus stops, crosswalks, intersections, pedestrian islands, corners, and cul-de-sacs. Crews will also be deployed over the next couple of days to select residential neighbourhoods to clear and treat streets as required.
In the rural areas, blowing and drifting snow are a challenge and may slow operations down, but rest assured, the team is hard at work.
Snow removal operations continue! The focus today and over the upcoming weekend remains on urban residential streets and select arterial and collector roads throughout the city, followed by Business Improvement Areas, business districts and bike lanes where snowbanks have significantly increased and restricted the travel lanes. Be on the lookout for ‘No Parking’ signs—this includes vehicles with residential parking permits. Failing to do so may result in vehicles being towed. Towed vehicles are relocated to an adjacent street where snow removal is not scheduled that day or has already been completed.
Next steps
Roads and Parking Services will continue to monitor the transportation network and the forecast throughout the day and over the coming days into the weekend. Looking ahead to Sunday’s forecast, the team is tracking a system heading toward the region. The team will be ready to respond as required.
