Well, it looks like we are going to get our first major snowfall of the winter tonight! Our detailed weather forecasts are indicating that snow flurries will start at approximately 10:00 pm tonight with heavier snowfall starting at midnight. Continuous snowfall is expected throughout the night into tomorrow morning through the morning commute. Flurries are expected to continue into Saturday. Forecasted snow accumulation is between 8-15 cm. Temperature will be at approximately 0C throughout the night.
Your Public Works Department is prepared and a full complement of staff and equipment is ready and prepared to work around the clock to clear both roadways and sidewalks. As the roads are dry right now, the conditions are excellent for applying anti-icing (salt brine) on known trouble spots. This is happening now. Working in accordance to our priority system, the main effort once the snow starts will be the arterial and collector routes (including Transit routes). If we meet the threshold of 10 cm we will call for a complete plow-out of all local (residential) roads. Please note that this plow-out of local roads is done with contractors. Further, please note that we will not initiate the plow-out until we have a break in the snowfall. This is done so that our own equipment can work in conjunction with the contractors as City trucks are the only ones equipped with the ability to lay down traction material (ie. salt and sand).
Media advisories will be issued, to include the local radio stations. Finally, the Snow Angels program will ramped up in to support those who require this service in accordance with normal protocols.
You can expect further updates from the Public Works Department as the situation dictates. Staff