Snowy start to the workweek; 8+ cm of snow
Posted Dec 5, 2016 06:10:06 AM.
Last Updated Dec 5, 2016 10:29:22 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA — A larger-than-expected dumping of snow slowed the morning commute, helped lead to collisions and caused transit delays.
The snow began before 4 a.m., and quickly covered the capital’s streets and roads.
Between 5 and 8:30 a.m., Ottawa Police responded to about 30 collisions. That figure did not include minor collisions where police were not called, nor collisions on roads patrolled by police services other than Ottawa.
At the peak of the morning commute, OC Transpo reported system-wide delays of up to 35 minutes.
Original predictions were for 3-5 centimetres of snow in Ottawa, but those totals were quickly surpassed.
“A weak disturbance that moved through, but it really seemed to intensify over the Ottawa area,” said Jill Taylor, 1310 NEWS meteorologist. “Initially, three to five centimetres (were forecast), we’re already at five in many areas.”
Snow totals around the capital varied from 3.5 to 13 centimetres:
- 1310 NEWS: 7 cm
- Ottawa Airport 8 cm
- Gatineau Airport 7 cm
- Stittsville (Environment Canada volunteer) 11 cm
- Richmond (Environment Canada volunteer) 13 cm
- Kemptville (Environment Canada volunteer) 3.5 cm
A bit more snow is forecast through the rest of the week; Taylor expects another two centimetres could come Tuesday evening, with cooler air possibly ushering in more snow for the weekend.
