Winter storm cancellations for February 27

A winter storm warning is in effect for Ottawa, Gatineau, Prescott and Russell as well as Smiths Falls, Lanark, Sharbot Lake due to total forecast accumulations of 15 to 25 cm of snow. 

Renfrew, Pembroke and Barry's Bay are also under a winter storm warning with 20 to 40 cm of snow expected. 

All school buses have been cancelled for Ottawa's public, Catholic and French-language school boards. All Ottawa schools are open.

School buses have also been cancelled in Renfrew County, as well as counties served by the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario and the Upper Canada District School Board. Schools in that region also remain open.

Gatineau schools have been closed for the day.

A combination of snow and freezing rain fell on the capital, Wednesday night into Thursday morning. The slow-moving storm is expected to drop an additional 15 centimetres of snow on the capital through the day Thursday, plus another 2 to 3 centimetres through the evening.

“Totals aren't as high as you would have expected this morning, but we still have a lot of snow to get through,” said Jill Taylor, 1310 NEWS meteorologist. “The Thursday morning commute was always expected to be quite bad.”

Ottawa's mayor urged residents who were able to work from home, Thursday, to keep the streets clear.

As Ottawa prepares for the biggest snowstorm this year, I encourage all residents who are able to do so to work from home tomorrow, and for their employers to facilitate these arrangements. This will help our crews with cleanup, as well as keep our streets safe. Stay warm!

— Jim Watson (@JimWatsonOttawa) February 26, 2020

SCHOOLS/SCHOOL BUSES:

All school buses have been cancelled within the city of Ottawa. Schools are open.

School buses in counties served by the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario and Upper Canada District School Board have been cancelled. Schools remain open.

The OCDSB Advisory Committee on Equity meeting scheduled for this evening has been cancelled. The orientation session originally planned for tonight will be held at the next meeting on March 26 at the University of Ottawa, Learning Crossroads Building, Rm CRX 407.

School buses to Renfrew County schools have been cancelled. Schools are open.

School buses to French-language schools in eastern Ontario have been cancelled. Schools are open.

Gatineau schools are closed today.

Algonquin College has closed its Pembroke campus until Friday at 7:30 a.m. The school's Ottawa and Perth campuses will remain open.

Redeemer Christian High School in Nepean is closed.

TRANSIT:

Stalled trains at Rideau and Tremblay stations were causing delays on the O-Train's Confederation Line.

Click here for live transit updates.

TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION:

Most morning flights departing Ottawa have been cancelled. Check your flight's status here:

– Ottawa airport arrival delays

– Ottawa airport departure delays

VIA RAIL:

No reports of any problems on eastbound trains to Montréal and Québec City. Westbound trains from Ottawa are still not running after the blockades and protests near Belleville. Check your train's status here.

POWER OUTAGES:

No updates at this time.

GOVERNMENT:

The City of Ottawa's winter weather parking ban will be enacted at 10 p.m., Thursday.

Ottawa Public Libraries are closed until noon.

City of Ottawa community centres are closed until noon, except for facilities being used as polling stations in today's by-elections.

By-elections are being held today in Ottawa-Vanier and in Orléans. Elections Ontario says voting hours may be extended at any polls that experience interruptions today.

OTHER:

No updates at this time.