Daytime winter parking ban in effect across Ottawa for Friday

As a winter storm approaches, the city of Ottawa has implemented a daytime winter parking ban for Friday, February 18.

The winter parking ban will be in effect between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Any vehicle parked on the street while a ban is in effect could be ticketed and towed.

On-street monthly parking permit holders are exempt from the ban if they are parked in residential parking permit zones. However, the city encourages everyone to find off-street parking options to avoid getting snowed-in.

Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning for Ottawa around 3:40 p.m. on Thursday, February 17. Total snow accumulations, which should start Thursday evening and taper off Friday morning, is estimated to be around 20 to 30 cm.

“There may be a brief period of ice pellets during the rain-to-snow transition,” the warning says. “Snow will taper off Friday morning.”

At times, peak snowfall could reach rates of between 2 and 4 cm per hour.

During winter parking bans, people can find available parking at select OC Transpo park and rides as well as certain recreation centres. A full list can be found on the city's website.

Ahead of the winter storm, OC Transpo has announced some of its services will be affected. That includes O-Train Line 1, which won't service downtown stations, and buses, which will operate on reducded schedules across Ottawa.

“The fluid situation around the ongoing demonstration will result in operating constraints that will make it difficult to accessing areas near the Parliamentary precinct,” a news release says. “The city intends to keep focus on pedestrian and emergency access routes through the area, clearing and treating sidewalks and facilitating the safe movement of emergency vehicles, where possible.”

The city of Ottawa says service teams will be out maintaining sidewalks, roads and the winter cycling network, but it will take longer than usual to restore them to regualr conditions.