Spring Snow/Ice Weather Event – April 2, 2025 Update

Forecast and conditions

Environment Canada has issued a Freezing Rain Warning and Special Weather Statement for the Ottawa region. Freezing rain, followed by significant rainfall, is expected to begin Wednesday afternoon and continue through to Thursday morning. Precipitation will begin as snow and ice pellets late in the afternoon before turning to freezing rain with ice accretion of 2 to 5 millimetres possible.

The wind will be 20 kilometres per hour gusting to 40. As the temperature rises, precipitation will turn to rain, heavy at times, with total rainfall amounts of 15 to 25 millimetres expected. Locally higher amounts as well as flooding in low-lying areas are possible.

Take extra care when walking, driving or cycling in affected areas. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery. Please adjust to the conditions of the network.

Our response

Supervisors are monitoring the forecast and the conditions of the transportation network. Our focus will be on treating priority roads, bus routes, the Transitway and the winter cycling network with salt and abrasives. Our partners in Parks Maintenance will be out treating City facility parking lots (with a priority on Fire and Paramedic stations) as well as lots serving recreation centres. Meanwhile, our Public Works colleagues will be on hand throughout the duration of this weather event to provide operational support if required.

With significant rainfall expected, we will also monitor areas that are prone to localized flooding and address any water pooling by ensuring that catch basins and ditches are open and able to take in water.

In the meantime, we are asking for anyone who can to please ensure that your local catch basin is clear and able to take in water. With over 100,000 catch basins in the city, we cannot do it alone and would appreciate any support you can offer.

Find your nearest catch basin using our catch basin locator map. Need to report a blocked catch basin? Let us know!

Next steps

The Roads and Parking Services team will continue to monitor the forecast, the transportation network and adjust our response according to the weather conditions. Unless the forecast changes significantly, please consider this your operational update for this spring freezing rain and rain event.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate responding to this spring weather event and managing our regular spring maintenance activities.

Travel with care today,

Quentin Levesque

Director, Roads and Parking Services | Directeur, Services des routes et du stationnement

Public Works | Travaux publics

City of Ottawa | Ville d'Ottawa