PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2024
County of Renfrew declares Significant Weather Event
In response to the Environment Canada alert for a freezing rain 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 FREEZING RAIN WARNING:
A prolonged period of freezing rain is expected, beginning Wednesday evening and ending Thursday morning.
Hazards: Significant ice build-up due to a long-lasting period of freezing rain. Ice accretion of 5 to 10 mm.
Discussion: Freezing drizzle or light flurries will persist today before precipitation transitions to freezing rain this evening. Freezing rain is expected to last for many hours before tapering off Thursday morning. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots will become icy, slippery and hazardous. Ice build-up may cause tree branches to break. Utility outages may occur. Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.
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
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