Winter storm could dump 25 to 40 cm of snow on Ottawa Monday
A major winter storm could bury Ottawa with 25 to 40 cm of snow as thousands of students and teachers return to class on Monday for the first time since the Christmas break.
"We are confident that there is going to be a significant snowfall," Environment Canada operational meteorologist Daniel Liota said.
Environment Canada has issued a winter storm watch for Ottawa, with 25 to 40 cm of snow expected Sunday night and Monday.
"Right now, the system is still on track to arrive early Monday morning," said Liota in an interview with CTV News Ottawa on Saturday. "The snow will really be heaviest kind of mid-morning into at least the early part of the afternoon before diminishing throughout the evening hours."
Environment Canada says Ottawa could see 2 to 5 cm of snow per hour Monday morning and afternoon.
The 25 to 40 cm of snow on Monday would set a record for greatest snowfall in Ottawa on Jan. 17. The current record is 11.7 cm of snow, set back in 1972.
Ottawa has only received 5 cm of snow in January, after 38.6 cm of snow in December.
A winter storm watch is also in effect for Kingston, Brockville, Leeds and Grenville, Cornwall-Morrisburg, Smiths Falls, Prescott and Russell, Renfrew-Pembroke and Barry's Bay. All areas could see 25 to 40 cm of snow.
Liota says it is too soon to predict the exact snowfall and track for the storm.
"The concern that we're facing is the western edge of the snow, on the backside of the system, it's going to be a very sharp cut off – from rather significant amounts to minor amounts, even next to nothing," said Liota.
"For eastern Ontario, it's seems a pretty safe bet that all areas will see a considerable snowfall – at least in the range of 15 plus centimetres."
The winter storm watch comes as an extreme cold warning remains in effect for Ottawa. A wind chill of minus 35 is expected overnight into Sunday.
Liota tells CTV News Ottawa the snow will provide a reprieve from the cold temperatures, but the cold "will return" on Tuesday and continue through the rest of the month.
"Unfortunately, the reprieve is not very long. It does look the cold returns later this week," said Liota.
"We do see some pretty strong signals that we're going to see at least another shot or two of very cold air before the end of this month. So it's going to be a very cold end to January."
SNOWCLEARING OPERATIONS
The city of Ottawa says its equipment and operators will be ready for deployment as required when the snow starts to fall.
"After experiencing a few events with low accumulations, it seems like we are making up for lost time with this winter wallop," said the city on its website.
"The Roads and Parking Services Team is tracking a significant snowfall that is expected to reach Ottawa early on Monday, and we may need to declare this as a Significant Weather Event."
During a winter storm, the city will deploy plows to clear major roads, arterials and major collector roads once the snow starts falling.
After the last snowflake falls, the city says the snowclearing operations include:
- Major roads, arterials and major collectors: Within four hours. Roads will not be bare pavement during a storm.
- Minor collector roads: Within six hours
- Residential roads and lanes: Within 10 hours
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports betters, the league says.
BREAKING Former Air Canada employees among suspects identified in gold heist at Pearson airport: police
Nine people have been arrested in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International airport last year, Peel Regional Police said Wednesday.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
MPs summon ArriveCan contractor to the House to be admonished in rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archaeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.
Some millennials say federal budget was 'a letdown' amid cost of living struggles
It’s a picture-perfect scene: Adam and Maria Reynolds are playing with their daughters inside their Port Coquitlam, B.C. home. Watching them together, you might not realize the Reynolds household is stretched to its limit.