In response to the Environment Canada alert for a winter storm warning in effect in our area, the County of Renfrew has declared a Significant Weather Event that will impact travel and services throughout the municipality. This declaration is made pursuant to Ontario Regulation 239/02, Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways.
A Significant Weather Event means an approaching or occurring weather hazard with the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the highways within the municipality. This declaration suspends the standard timelines required for municipalities to meet their winter maintenance objectives until the municipality declares the Significant Weather Event has ended. In each case, during a declared Significant Weather Event, the standard for addressing winter maintenance is to monitor the weather and to deploy resources to address the issue starting from the time that the municipality deems it appropriate to do so. When the municipality has declared the event has ended, the standard timelines for winter maintenance activities will resume.
The County of Renfrew wishes to note that the declaration of a Significant Weather Event is not notice of a reduced level of service or a road closure. The declaration is to notify the public that due to the current or forecasted conditions, caution is to be observed when travelling on Renfrew County roads and that it may take longer than usual to bring the condition of the roads back to a state of repair due to the freezing rain.
A notice will follow once the Significant Weather Event declaration has ended.
ENVIRONMENT CANADA WINTER STORM WARNING:
Impactful winter storm this afternoon into Wednesday morning.
Hazards: 15 to 30 cm of snow. Poor visibility in areas of heavy snow and blowing snow. Risk of freezing rain and ice pellets. Hazardous travel conditions.
Discussion: Snow associated with a major winter storm is expected to arrive this afternoon and continue into Wednesday morning. Northeast winds gusting up to 50 kilometres per hour will result in areas of blowing snow giving poor visibility at times.
There is a risk of ice pellets and freezing rain tonight, with a complete changeover to rain possible for areas close to Georgian Bay.
The amount of snow will depend on how quickly the precipitation changes to ice pellets, freezing rain or rain, although some locations may receive 15 to 30 cm of snow.
Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. Visibility will be suddenly reduced to near zero at times in heavy snow and blowing snow. Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.
Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada at https://bit.ly/3JUEwR8.