February 15, 2024 | Significant Weather Event

February 15, 2024

County of Renfrew declares Significant Weather Event

In response to the Environment Canada alert for snowfall 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 SNOWFALL WARNING:

Snowfall with total amounts of about 15 centimetres is expected this afternoon
into this evening, with peak snowfall rates of 3 to 5 cm per hour possible. The
heavy snow may cause reduced visibility.
Discussion: An area of heavy snow will push through the region during the
afternoon and early evening hours today. Most of the snowfall could accumulate
quickly within just a few hours due to high snowfall rates. Heavy snow will taper
to light flurries through the evening.
Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Surfaces such as
highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due
to accumulating snow. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road
conditions. If visibility is reduced while driving, slow down, watch for taillights
ahead and be prepared to stop.
Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada at
https://bit.ly/3JUEwR8.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lee Perkins Director, Public Works and Engineering 613-732-4353
Tina Peplinskie Media Relations Coordinator 613-735-7288