‘Significant’ snow system set to dump 15 cm; parking ban on Saturday

The snowy winter the nation’s capital has been experiencing will continue into March as a system from western Canada travels across the province on Friday.

The Alberta Clipper is going to bring heavy snowfall this afternoon and overnight into Saturday. Environment Canada notes that visibility will be reduced with the accumulating snow.

As a result, the City of Ottawa is putting a daytime winter weather parking ban in effect on March 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The system is going to hit parts of the Greater Toronto Area by late afternoon before heading to Ottawa. Friday morning is sunny with a 40 km/h wind that is set to get stronger before tapering off.

It is a high of -7 C with a wind chill increasing to -10 C from -19 C over the day.

Saturday, flurries are possible, the forecast notes, with temperatures hovering around 0 C with a wind chill of -9 C. Temperatures are set to cool off further on March 1 to -21 C.

According to the weather agency, cold temperatures are supposed to stick around until early next week.

This is good news for the Rideau Canal that remained closed for skating over the week to preserve the ice.

Officials from the National Capital Commission closed the skateway Monday morning due to the late-February thaw the city had early this week. Instead people were encouraged to walk along the canal.

“Warm weather makes the ice soft and easily damaged by skates,” officials said. “By only using the designated walking lanes, you’ll help us reopen the skating surface faster.”

On Friday, the team said on social media that the canal will close at 6:00 p.m., including walking lanes, to clear the snow.