Environment Canada has issued a winter storm warning for Ottawa, anticipating heavy snowfall and freezing rain from Sunday into Monday morning. The weather is expected to start with snow mixed with freezing rain late Sunday morning or early afternoon, transitioning to heavy snow by evening and continuing into Monday morning.
The agency warns of potential ice accretion of 2 to 4 mm and snowfall accumulations near 15 cm. Reduced visibility in heavy snow and peak snowfall rates of 2 to 3 cm per hour are possible tonight.
In response, the City of Ottawa has announced a daytime winter weather parking ban for Monday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., which may extend if necessary for winter road operations. Parking on city streets is prohibited during the ban to facilitate plowing. Vehicles parked on the street may be ticketed and towed, although on-street monthly parking permit holders in residential zones are exempt.
The city’s snow clearing schedule follows a road-priority system, focusing first on high-use and emergency routes. Sidewalks in the downtown core and the winter cycling network will be cleared after 2.5 cm of snow accumulation, secondary roads and minor collectors after 5 cm, residential sidewalks after 5 cm, and residential roads and lanes after 7 cm or more.
Quentin Levesque, the city’s director of roads and parking services, asks for patience as snow clearing operations might take longer due to the expected wet and heavy snow and variable weather conditions. The city also urges residents to exercise caution and be prepared for potentially extended clearing times.