Pack your patience Ottawa, there’s a winter storm headed our way that’s going to create hazardous conditions and have an impact on travel. Who is ready to respond? The Roads and Parking Services team!
Forecast and conditions
Environment Canada has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Ottawa region. Snow will begin late this afternoon, intensifying into the evening with total accumulations of 10 to 20 centimetres possible before transitioning to freezing rain and then rain overnight. The exact amount of snow will depend on how quickly precipitation changes to ice pellets or freezing rain. Snow will be heavy at times and may be mixed with ice pellets before changing to freezing rain after midnight as the temperature is expected to rise to zero by morning. Several hours of freezing rain are possible. Local blowing snow is expected this evening and after midnight with wind gusts up to 50 kilometres per hour causing very poor visibility.
Be prepared to adjust to the changing conditions of the transportation network today. Take extra care when walking, driving or cycling in affected areas. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery.
Our response
All available resources will be deployed and working around the clock. Our supervisors are monitoring conditions today and will continue into the late evening and overnight. Once accumulation begins, our focus will be on clearing and treating sidewalks, priority roads, and the winter cycling network. Crews are expected to move into residential neighbourhoods tomorrow morning. Given the nature of this event, the snow will be wet and heavy and it will take some time to clean up.
Conditions will be messy and visibility, at times, may be restricted. We encourage those who can, to plan ahead today by completing their errands and to find off-street parking as travel over the next 36 hours should be limited unless it is essential.
A Daytime Winter Weather Parking Ban is Being Called
A Winter Weather Parking Ban will be in effect tomorrow Wednesday, January 10 from 10am to 7pm. 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, to remove their vehicles to prevent them from being snowed in. The City of Ottawa has added an additional 18 parking lots 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
- Safety is a priority for our team, and we will be out in full force working to keep Ottawa’s sidewalks, priority roads and the winter cycling network treated and clear. Conditions are messy and changing, and those who have to travel should adjust to the conditions of the transportation network.
- 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.
- Are you ready? To help ensure your safety and the safety of your family, now is a good time prepare your emergency kit.
- Do you need volunteer hours? 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. Variable conditions will make things difficult to navigate - we will adapt and try to stay ahead of this winter storm. Support from our residents is crucial as we respond to this event.
We are committed to keeping you informed as we progress through the event and will provide another update tomorrow morning.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as this winter storm unfolds.