Winter Storm: January 9–10
Environment Canada has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Ottawa region. The City is closely monitoring a major weather system for Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning.
Please be aware that this system has the potential to be a significant winter storm with 10 to 20 centimetres of heavy snow, ice pellets, and freezing rain.
Several hours of freezing rain are possible. Local blowing snow is expected this evening and after midnight with wind gusts up to 50km per hour causing very poor visibility.
A Winter Weather Parking Ban will be in effect tomorrow Wednesday, January 10 from 10am to 7pm. Learn more here, or read more below.
Residents are encouraged to keep an eye on updates from Environment Canada for up-to-date information on the storm as it progresses.
During a winter storm, please visit Ottawa.ca/winter for the most up-to-date information from the City.
The City’s Response
As we progress through the day and approach the storm, crews will continue to clear and treat sidewalks, touch up arterial roads and work in residential areas to clean up and treat icy conditions leftover from this past weekend’s event. They will also continue to focus on cleaning up any remaining problem areas such as bus stops, crosswalks, intersections, pedestrian islands, corners, and cul-de-sacs.
As we enter the storm, all available resources will be deployed and will be working around the clock. Our supervisors are monitoring conditions today and will continue into the late evening and overnight. Once accumulation begins, the City's focus will be on clearing and treating sidewalks, priority roads, and other elements of the network based on the City's maintenance standards.
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.
During a storm, the City maintains the transportation network actively. The below infographic outlines the maintenance standards applied by the City. For more information on pathways and sidewalks specifically, read this update on the matter.
Please note that these timelines begin once accumulation stops. For instance, on residential roads and lanes, it can take 10-16 hours for maintenance after the snow stops falling.
These timelines can also be impacted by Significant Weather Events. If a Significant Weather Event is declared, the City will continue to clear and treat sidewalks, roads, and all other parts of the winter maintenance network, but may not complete that work within the City’s Maintenance Quality Standards timelines.
More information on Significant Weather Events is available here.
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 are able to do so 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
How to Report Issues
There is no need to create a service request for routine snow clearing. Winter road maintenance staff are on the job and their efforts are currently needed out in the community; service requests should only be created for emergencies.
Once a winter weather event has passed, should you become aware of an issue on the City-maintained transportation network, submit a service request by calling 3-1-1 or online here.
It is important to note that during a storm when the snow is still falling, during a declared Significant Weather Event, or prior to the maintenance quality standards timelines being exceeded, reports to 3-1-1 do not lead to quicker action. In particular, during a Significant Weather Event, all available resources will be deployed, and residents are asked to refrain from calling 3-1-1 or creating a service request for anything other than an emergency so that City staff can better address the most pressing issues.
If you are having trouble contacting or receiving assistance from the City, my office can assist with reporting issues identified by residents. My office is best reached by email at ward21@ottawa.ca.