Here’s how Windsor crews are preparing for more snow

City of Windsor crews are preparing for a possible significant snowfall in the city this week.

Environment Canada is forecasting up to 20 centimetres of snow beginning early Wednesday and continuing through the day.

With temperatures near freezing, there is a chance of wet snow making driving conditions slushy and hazardous.

“We’ve been fortunate here compared to the rest of the province, we didn’t even have snow on the ground until last week,” said OPP Const. Steven Duguay. “You should always have an emergency kit ready to go in your vehicle. Make sure your fuel tank is filled up, washer fluid is filled up. Carry some non-perishable snacks like granola bars or anything like that if you’re stuck for a long period of time.”

When it comes to keeping the power on, Enwin VP of Hydro Operations Jim Brown said, “I would say that we're always ready... We’ll have full staff here all day. And we should be able to deal with anything that that might happen.”

The city wants to ensure that residents know the plan for road clearing. So here it is:

Clearing of Streets

City staff monitor weather forecasts and begin salting, when required, to help ensure roads remain as safe as possible. Plowing starts once the snowfall accumulation reaches five centimetres, and an average route takes from three to six hours to complete once the snow has stopped falling, depending on the time of day and traffic conditions. Once the main roads are clear, and only if more than 10 centimetres of snow has fallen, trucks will then move into residential areas.

Snow Plows

Motorists are asked to be patient when travelling behind a plow and give operators plenty of room. Plows typically operate at up to 40 kilometres per hour. Following too close to a snowplow can lead to poor visibility, and vehicles risk being hit by thrown snow, salt or rocks.

Sidewalks and Driveways

Residents and property owners are reminded that clearing of sidewalks abutting their property is their responsibility. Please be sure to remove snow completely from your sidewalk to ensure that people with mobility issues are able to pass through freely.

As well, under the Highway Traffic Act and City of Windsor by-laws, it is prohibited to shovel snow back onto the street while clearing sidewalks and driveways, as this creates unsafe road conditions for motorists. All sidewalks in commercial areas are to be cleared within four hours after the snowfall ends and within twelve hours in residential areas.

Reminders

In all conditions, Public Works reminds drivers to use TLC (time – allow enough time to arrive safely at your destination; length – make sure you leave enough space between you and the vehicles around you; and caution – always drive with care, especially in hazardous conditions).