Ottawa declares a ‘significant weather event’ due to snowstorm
Posted Feb 12, 2025 09:36:59 AM.
Last Updated Feb 12, 2025 04:04:10 PM.
The City of Ottawa is preparing for a major storm that is set to bring 40 centimetres of snow to the nation’s capital overnight Wednesday.
The municipality has declared a “significant weather event” to use all available resources to prepare for the dumping of snow and to warn the public of the great risk this system poses.
The weather warning from Environment Canada says that “heavy” amounts of snow are likely to hit the region overnight into Thursday. It is possible to see snowfall rates of more than 5 cm per hour at the peak of the storm.
“Total amounts of up to 40 cm are likely,” Environment Canada’s storm warning reads. “This winter storm will impact the Thursday morning commute. Snow will gradually taper off Thursday afternoon.”
Environment Canada said that 50 km/h wind gusts are possible and will increase blowing snow in the region on Feb. 13.
Parking bans in Ottawa
The city calls a significant event when Canada’s weather agency warns of an approaching or an occurring system that poses dangers to the users of the transportation network; such as roads, sidewalks and the bus/train system.
“By declaring a Significant Weather Event, we know that we will not be meeting our winter maintenance timeline objectives, and snow clearing and treating operations will take longer than usual,” the roads and parks services staff said in the press release. “Accumulation on our network will be heavy and wet and our sidewalks, roads and the winter cycling network will be covered with snow.”
As a result, the city is calling two back-to-back winter weather parking bans.
The first is in effect from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 13) and the second will come into effect Friday (Feb. 14) from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
“This is not your typical storm, and we anticipate that multiple passes will be required to clear and treat these conditions,” the team said.
During a parking ban all vehicles must not be on the road, unless there is an eligible parking permit. However, crews say people should try to find another parking spot to prevent their vehicle from being snowed in.
