Sharing a Winter Operations Update our team received from the City’s Public Works team:
Forecast and conditions
Periods of light snow are expected to begin this afternoon and continue into late this evening, with 2 to 4 centimetres forecasted before coming to an end after midnight. There is a risk of freezing rain overnight before the snow resumes Wednesday morning and will persist through the day Wednesday and continue overnight. A total accumulation between 15 to 20 centimeters is possible before coming to an end on Thursday morning. Winds are also expected to increase Wednesday morning at 30 kilometres an hour causing blowing and drifting snow in open areas.
Slippery conditions are expected, and residents are reminded to exercise caution while using all our transportation networks.
Our response
The Roads and Parking Services team is ready! Supervisors will be watching the forecast and monitoring the conditions of the transportation network throughout the evening and overnight. Once accumulation begins, crews will be working on clearing and treating sidewalks, roads and the winter cycling network while our colleagues in Parks Maintenance will be doing the same at emergency service stations, libraries and community centers as well as some City facility parking lots. Given the snow is not expected to end until overnight Wednesday, a decision to call a winter weather parking ban will be made tomorrow.
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.
- Be a Hydrant Hero this winter and help keep your community safe by clearing a path from the curb and 0.5 metres around your local fire hydrant. Students can earn community involvement hours for their contribution.
Next steps
The Roads and Parking Services team will continue to monitor the weather over the next 48 hours, as weather advisories or snowfall warnings may be issued as the event draws closer. I will provide another update tomorrow as we track this system moving through the region and to confirm if a winter weather parking ban will be called.