On this page you will find updates from the Roads Operations Team about weather events in the City of Ottawa
Winter Operations Update - Wednesday, February 19 – Afternoon
The Roads and Parking Services team is actively working on restoring the transportation network. It’s a process, and it’s taking time, but they are working around the clock to complete the cleanup.
Forecast and conditions
There’s no snow in today’s forecast! A mix of sun and cloud today with winds up to 15 kilometres per hour.
Transportation network conditions and our response
Supervisors continue to monitor the transportation network. The focus today is on sidewalks, snow removal and the remaining cleanup.
They are actively working on addressing the issues caused by the blowing and drifting snow since Sunday’s winter storm. Crews are working 24 hours a day (dayshift works from 7 am to 7 pm and the nightshift is in from 7 pm to 7 am) and will continue until the transportation network has been restored.
As I mentioned in my earlier post, the sidewalk/pathway network has been slowly opening up, however, they areas are snow packed. Crews are using blowers to widen and clean up the sidewalks which slows operations down. Once the sidewalk has been opened and widened, additional passes will be required to plow/scape the remaining snow. Crews will than also applying materials to help restore them to meet the City’s Maintenance Quality Standards.
The priority roads and residential streets are in good condition. Although the team has opened up most bus stops, crosswalks, intersections, pedestrian island and corners, there are still some localized problem spots that need to be addressed.
Given the volume of snow that remains on the transportation network and continued cleanup efforts, the Significant Weather Event remains in effect until further notice.
Snow removal operations
Yesterday, the Roads and Parking Services team began snow removal operations throughout the City. A message on the team’s progress will be provided later this week.
Next steps
Roads and Parking Services continues its work on restoring the transportation network, and staff will provide a brief update on the team’s progress tomorrow. In the forecast tomorrow, there’s a possibility of flurries in the afternoon, and should the need arise, crews will be deployed as required.
Thank you for your continued support of the City’s winter operations.
City Winter Operations Updates - Feb 16/25
Crews have been out all night clearing and treating the transportation network. As expected, snow began yesterday afternoon, and as of early this morning, the Ottawa Airport reported 5 centimetres had fallen with higher amounts in localized areas. But that was just the start; there is much more to come. The Significant Weather Event remains in effect as snow clearing and treating operations are taking longer than usual.
We know operations will be slow going today and residents are reminded to be patient and understand that it will be challenging to get around the city during this event and beyond.
Forecast and conditions
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for the Ottawa region. The heaviest snow is expected today with total snowfall accumulations of 20 to 30 centimetres possible and more in localized areas. When snowfall rates are at their peak, the snow will be accumulating quickly. The wind will be 40 kilometres per hour gusting to 60, causing blowing and drifting snow in open areas, particularly in the rural parts of that city.
Conditions will rapidly deteriorate this morning as the heaviest snow and blowing snow moves through the region. Travel will be hazardous and is not recommended. If you must be out, please exercise extreme caution when using the transportation network.
The Office of Emergency Management is in a state of “Monitoring” and ready to coordinate a Citywide response if deemed necessary. Given the extent of the impacts of this second storm and to increase coordination of efforts across all service areas, Public Works has activated its emergency command centre.
Our response
Supervisors will be monitoring the conditions of the transportation network throughout the day, into the evening and overnight. All resources have been deployed. Crews will continue to treat sidewalks, arterial roads, and the winter cycling network. The team will move into residential neighbourhoods this morning and will continue through the afternoon to treat and clear streets. The nightshift will pick up where the dayshift left off and work their way through the entire transportation network again.
Our sidewalk crews are out in full force and the team has switched to blowers to deal with high accumulation amounts and blowing snow. The use of blowers also requires a second pass to scrape the sidewalk clean after the blower has been through. As a result, it takes more time to clear the sidewalk network to the standard we typically maintain.
We know that we will not be meeting our winter maintenance timeline objectives and anticipate that multiple passes will be required to clear and treat conditions on the transportation network. Given the snowfall rate and the significant blowing and drifting snow, once a plow has passed, it will very quickly look like it hasn’t been there, but rest assured, crews are out in full force. As a reminder, we expect to be responding to this major winter weather event for several days as operations are taking longer than usual.
An extended winter weather parking ban is in effect
A Winter Weather Parking Ban is in effect until further notice. The extension to the standard winter weather parking ban is essential for the support of our operations. We will be monitoring the forecast and the conditions of the transportation network and will provide an update on when the parking ban will be lifted as this weather system tapers off this evening.
During this time, all vehicles must be removed from the roadway - unless you have an eligible parking permit or are accessing parking in our exempted commercial main streets. Though eligible parking permit holders are exempt, we encourage those who can, please try to find alternate parking during this time to prevent your vehicle from being snowed in. The City of Ottawa has several parking lots available for residents to park during a parking ban. Vehicles may remain parked at these sites for the duration of the ban and must be removed after the City announces that the ban has been lifted. Information on all parking options during a winter weather parking ban is available on Ottawa.ca/winterparking.
Residents can stay in the know about our winter weather parking bans by signing up for e-alerts at Ottawa.ca, or by downloading the City of Ottawa app.
Service impacts
For information about service impacts as it relates to today’s weather event, please visit Ottawa.ca
Resident support is required
Conditions will be hazardous and non-essential travel should be avoided. For those who must travel, please give yourself extra time and adjust to the conditions of the transportation network.
Flashing blue lights means we are hard at work. If you see a sidewalk plow approaching, please step aside into an open driveway. Always remember to stay at least 3 car lengths behind our vehicles – please never pass our vehicles.
There is no need to create a service request for routine snow clearing. We are on the job and our efforts are currently needed out in the community; service requests should only be created for emergencies.
Please help keep our streets clear and avoid shoveling snow onto the roadway, bike lanes, sidewalks, pathways and parks as it slows down our operations.
With all that snow out there, it’s an exciting time to play, build snow forts and snowmen. It’s important children always do fun winter activities in the backyard and not on snowbanks along the road where our snowplow operators are working.
Next steps
Roads and Parking Services will continue to monitor this system and the transportation network over the next 24 hours and beyond. Conditions are making it very difficult to navigate, but rest assured, our operators working hard to stay ahead of this storm.
We are committed to keeping you informed as this system moves through the region, and I will provide another update later today about when the Winter Weather Parking Ban will be lifted.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as the team responds to this major winter event.
City Winter Operations Updates - Feb 13/25
The city woke up to 17 centimetres of snow and there is still much more to come. We haven’t seen snow like this since 2022 and although this amount of snow in such a short period is uncommon, the Roads and Parking Services team is prepared and will continue working as this system moves through the region. Please remember, this is not your typical storm, and operations will take longer than usual.
Forecast and conditions
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect for the Ottawa region. Snow will be heavy at times with up to 20 centimetres possible before tapering off this afternoon. With the daytime high forecasted at minus 1, there is a risk of freezing drizzle this afternoon. The wind will be 30 kilometres per hour gusting to 60, causing significant blowing and drifting snow in open areas.
Heavy snowfall and local blowing snow will create near zero visibility and travel should be avoided. If you must be out, please exercise extreme caution when using the transportation network.
The Office of Emergency Management is in a state of “Monitoring” and ready to coordinate a Citywide response if deemed necessary. Given the current condition of the transportation network and understanding operations are taking longer than usual, the Significant Weather Event remains in effect.
Our response
Supervisors continue to monitor the forecast and the transportation network. Crews have been working nonstop overnight and the dayshift has picked up right where the nightshift left off. All resources are deployed, and as we progress through the day, crews will continue to clear and treat sidewalks, arterial roads and the winter cycling network. The team will move into residential neighbourhoods later this morning and will continue through the evening to treat and clear streets.
Our sidewalk crews are out in full force, and in some areas, they will switch to blowers to deal with high accumulation amounts due to blowing snow. This type of equipment takes more time to clear the sidewalk network.
As a reminder, there is a lot of snow, and some areas of the region are experiencing significant blowing and drifting snow, so it will take crews longer to get through the entire transportation network. Please be patient.
Winter weather parking ban is in effect
A Winter Weather Parking Ban is in effect until 7 pm tonight. When vehicles are removed from our streets, the Roads and Parking Services team can clear snow efficiently to create a wide-open roadway. As a reminder, there will be a second winter parking ban in effect tomorrow from 10 am to 7 pm.
Residents can stay in the know about our winter weather parking bans by signing up for e-alerts at Ottawa.ca, or by downloading the City of Ottawa app.
Service impacts
For information about service impacts as it relates to today’s weather event, please visit Ottawa.ca
Resident support is required
Safety is a priority for our team, and we will be out in full force working to keep Ottawa’s sidewalks, roads and the winter cycling network treated and clear. Conditions are hazardous and residents are reminded to stay home if they are able. For those who must travel, please give yourself extra time and adjust to the conditions of the transportation network.
Flashing blue lights means we are hard at work. If you see a sidewalk plow approaching, please step aside into an open driveway. Always remember to stay at least 3 car lengths behind our vehicles – please never pass our vehicles.
There is no need to create a service request for routine snow clearing. We are on the job and our efforts are currently needed out in the community; service requests should only be created for emergencies.
Although the parking ban will be lifted at 7 pm tonight, we encourage those who can, to please try to find alternate parking overnight to allow our staff to efficiently clear the roads.
If your waste collection day is tomorrow, please try to place your bins out in the morning (by 7 am) as strong winds may toss them onto the roadways or sidewalks,
Next steps
Roads and Parking Services team will continue its work on restoring the transportation network. Conditions are making things difficult to navigate, but rest assured, our operators are hard at work doing everything they can to stay ahead of this storm.
We are committed to keeping you informed as we progress through the event and will provide another update tomorrow.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as the team continues to respond to this major winter event.
City Winter Operations Updates - Feb 12/25
A major winter storm is on the horizon and non-essential travel during this time should be avoided. Anyone who must travel during this event is asked to plan ahead and to give themselves extra travel time.
Environment Canada has issued a Winter Storm Warning, and effective immediately, the City of Ottawa is declaring a Significant Weather Event that will remain in effect until further notice.
A Significant Weather Event has been declared
A Significant Weather Event (SWE) is declared when Environment Canada issues a Weather Hazard when weather that is either occurring or approaching has the potential to pose significant danger to users of Ottawa’s transportation network.
The intent of declaring a SWE is to notify the public that because of the forecast and/or current weather conditions, it will take longer than usual to restore the transportation network to expected conditions and that caution is to be exercised when using sidewalks, roads, and the winter cycling network.
For more information about the Significant Weather Events program, please visit Ottawa.ca.
Forecast and conditions
Snow is expected to start this evening and intensify overnight with the heaviest snow expected to fall Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Peak snowfall rates are expected to exceed 5 centimetres per hour with 30 to 40 centimetres forecasted before gradually tapering off on Thursday afternoon. Winds will be up to 30 kilometres per hour, gusting to 50, causing blowing and drifting snow in open areas.
Travel should be avoided as rapidly accumulating snow will make conditions on the transportation network difficult to navigate and road closures are possible.
Our response
The Roads and Parking Services team is ready! Once accumulation begins, all resources will be deployed and crews will focus on treating and clearing sidewalks, priority roads, bus routes, the Transitway and the winter cycling network. Our Parks Maintenance partners will also be out in full force, clearing City facility parking lots (with a priority on Fire and Paramedic stations) as well as lots serving recreation centres.
By declaring a Significant Weather Event, we know that we will not be meeting our winter maintenance timeline objectives, and snow clearing and treating operations will take longer than usual. Accumulation on our network will be heavy and wet and our sidewalks, roads and the winter cycling network will be covered with snow. This is not your typical storm, and we anticipate that multiple passes will be required to clear and treat these conditions. Given the amount of snow expected, some residents may find it challenging to get out of their communities until crews have been able to clear the residential sidewalks and streets.
Some areas of the region will experience significant blowing and drifting snow, which makes it difficult for operators to navigate. Please be patient, as it will take time to get through the transportation network, but rest assured, they will be hard at work.
Back-to-back daytime parking bans are being called
There will be two back-to-back Winter Weather Parking Bans called. The first will be in effect from 10 am to 7 pm on Thursday, February 13 and the second will be in effect from 10 am to 7 pm on Friday, February 14. These two back-to-back winter weather parking bans are essential for the support of our operations. Should the forecast shift and underperform, the second ban may be called off.
During this time, all vehicles must be removed from the roadway - unless you have an eligible parking permit or are accessing parking in our exempted commercial main streets. Though eligible parking permit holders are exempt, we encourage those who can, please try to find alternate parking during this time to prevent your vehicle from being snowed in. The City of Ottawa has several parking lots available for residents to park during a parking ban. Vehicles may remain parked at these sites for the duration of the ban and must be removed after the City announces that the ban has been lifted. Information on all parking options during a winter weather parking ban is available on Ottawa.ca/winterparking.
Residents can stay in the know about our winter weather parking bans by signing up for e-alerts at Ottawa.ca, or by downloading the City of Ottawa app.
Resident support is required
Safety is a priority for our team, and we will be out in full force working to keep Ottawa’s sidewalks, roads and the winter cycling network treated and clear. Conditions will be hazardous and non-essential travel should be avoided. For those who must travel, please give yourself extra time and adjust to the conditions of the transportation network.
Flashing blue lights means we are hard at work. If you see a sidewalk plow approaching, please step aside into an open driveway. Always remember to stay at least 3 car lengths behind our vehicles – please never pass our vehicles.
There is no need to create a service request for routine snow clearing. We are on the job and our efforts are currently needed out in the community; service requests should only be created for emergencies.
Please place garbage, recycling, and organic collection bins in your driveway and not on the road or sidewalks. Residents can sign up to receive reminders and service alerts for their waste collection day by email or phone call at ottawa.ca/CollectionCalendar or can download the Ottawa Collection Calendar mobile app for Apple( and Android devices to confirm their collection day
During the period of time when the winter weather parking ban is not in effect, you can support our operations by finding off-street parking options. If you can, please ask a friend or neighbour to share their laneway. When vehicles are removed from our streets, the Roads and Parking Services team can clear snow efficiently to create a wide-open roadway.
Are you ready? To help ensure your safety and the safety of your family, now is a good time prepare your emergency kit.
Next Steps
Roads and Parking Services will continue to monitor the forecast and transportation network this evening and overnight.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as crews navigate these very challenging weather conditions. Support from our residents is crucial as we respond to this event.
We are committed to keeping you informed as we respond to this event and will provide another update tomorrow morning.
Until then, please stay safe.
Feb 11, 2025 Winter Operations Update
Just a reminder to residents that main roads and arterial roads are prioritized before residential roads for winter operations. The attached graphic explains the snow removal timeline when the City of Ottawa is hit with a winter storm.
Please see below for an update from staff for a potential significant weather event coming tomorrow evening.
Earlier this morning, Environment Canada issued a Winter Storm Watch for the Ottawa Region. A significant winter storm is expected Wednesday evening into Thursday with current total snowfall amounts of 20 to 40 centimetres forecasted and snowfall rates possibly exceeding 5 centimetres per hour. That’s a lot of snow! Although confidence is increasing that the storm will impact Ottawa, there is uncertainty on the track of this low-pressure system, making the exact snowfall amounts unknown at this time.
Given the current forecast, it is very likely a Winter Weather Parking Ban will be required. The timing and duration of the ban will be determined as we get closer to the event. Residents are encouraged to stay in the know about our winter weather parking bans by signing up for e-alerts at Ottawa.ca or by downloading the City of Ottawa app.
The Roads and Parking Services team is preparing for this winter event by getting their equipment ready and salt domes filled. Crews that are currently working on snow removal operations in select areas of the city will be reallocated to respond to this winter event, and all resources will be deployed. Meanwhile, Parks Maintenance partners will be out in full force, clearing City facility parking lots (with a priority on Fire and Paramedic stations) as well as lots serving recreation centres.
Next Steps
The Roads and Parking Services team will continue to monitor the forecast over the next 36 hours, and they will provide a another winter operations update tomorrow as they track this system moving into the region. It will include specific details on the forecast, their response and when a Winter Weather Parking Ban will be called.
Thank you for your ongoing support of the City's winter operations.
Friday February 7th, 2025 Update
We have had a week, Ottawa! Two weather advisories, a snow squall warning, cold temperatures, wind and snow, but that’s no match for the Roads and Parking Services team! They have been working nonstop and will keep going until the entire transportation network has been treated and cleared.
Forecast and conditions
Environment Canada has lifted the Weather Advisory and Snow Squall Warning for the Ottawa region. Ottawa received approximately 10 centimetres and up to 15 centimetres in localized areas. Flurries ended this morning, and the wind will be 30 kilometres per hour gusting to 50, causing significant blowing and drifting snow in open areas. A daytime high of minus 4 is forecasted and an overnight low of minus 14.
Due to localized blowing and drifting snow, the transportation network remains slippery and, in some areas, snow-covered. Residents are reminded to exercise caution when out walking, driving, and cycling.
Our response
Supervisors will be monitoring the conditions of the transportation network throughout the day and into the evening. Crews will continue to treat sidewalks, arterial roads, and the winter cycling network. The team moved into residential neighbourhoods this morning and will continue through the evening to treat and clear streets. The nightshift will pick up where the dayshift left off and they will focus on cleaning up any problem areas such as bus stops, crosswalks, intersections, pedestrian islands, corners and cul de sacs.
Some areas of the region will experience significant blowing and drifting snow, which makes it difficult for operators to navigate. Please be patient, as it will take time to get through the transportation network, but rest assured, they will be hard at work.
Resident support is required
Flashing blue lights means we are hard at work. If you see a sidewalk plow approaching, please step aside into an open driveway. Always remember to stay at least 3 car lengths behind our vehicles – please never pass our vehicles.
You can support our operations by finding off-street parking options. If you can, please ask a friend or neighbour to share their laneway. When vehicles are removed from our streets, the Roads and Parking Services team can clear snow efficiently to create a wide-open roadway.
Become a Snow Angel! Support your community by helping someone you know who is elderly or has a disability, by clearing snow or ice from their driveway, steps or walkway. More information on the Snow Angel Program is available on Ottawa.ca.
Next steps
Roads and Parking Services will continue to monitor the transportation network over the next 24 hours. Looking ahead to this weekend’s forecast, snow is expected on Sunday with up to 5 centimetres possible. The team will be ready to respond accordingly.
We would like to thank residents for their patience and support as we complete our operations.
Unless the forecast changes significantly, please consider this your operations update for the weekend.
Continue to travel with care today.
As always, residents who have questions about this or any other municipal issue can contact our team at Clarke.Kelly@Ottawa.ca. Stay up to date by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or Subscribe to our West Carleton-March (Ward 5) Newsletter.