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January 12, 2024
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
County of Renfrew declares Significant Weather Event
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:
Another winter storm expected tonight into Saturday afternoon.
Hazards: Heavy snow. Total snowfall accumulations of 15 to 30 cm possible. Peak snowfall rates of 3 to 5 cm per hour. Strong wind gusts resulting in significantly reduced visibility in blowing snow.
Discussion: Snow is forecast to begin this evening and will quickly become heavy at times tonight, before transitioning to periods of light snow Saturday morning. Strong easterly winds gusting up to 70 km/h will combine with this heavy snow to cause significantly reduced visibility at times.
In the wake of this system, much colder Arctic air will become established across the region. A multi-day lake effect snow event is expected for locations east of the Great Lakes bringing additional snowfall accumulations to some communities.
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.
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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