Winter storm

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Current situation

The significant weather event has been lifted. The Roads and Parking Services team is continuing their work to maintain the City’s sidewalks, roads and the winter cycling network, and to restore them to normal conditions.

Please exercise caution when using City sidewalks, roads and the winter cycling network.

Don't forget to keep your natural gas meter and appliance vents clear of snow and ice, including the path leading to them. This will prevent dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home.

Check back here, the City's Facebook(link is external) and X (formerly Twitter)(link is external) feeds, or local news media for the latest information.

Roads, parking and transit

Roads

The focus remains on sidewalks and snow removal. Crews are working 24 hours a day on restoring the transportation network and snow removal. There is still a lot to accomplish, but the team is making progress, and their hard work is paying off. Your continued patience and support are appreciated, as a complete cleanup will take weeks.

When travelling, always adjust to the conditions of the roads and remember – blue lights flashing means road crews are on the job! Never pass a snow plow or other snow clearing vehicle.

For the latest information on snow clearing and other road impacts visit Snow plowing and clearing.

Parking

Residents are reminded to sign up for the Winter Weather Parking Ban e-alerts(link is external) or download the City of Ottawa app to stay up to date on upcoming winter parking restrictions.

You can continue supporting our operations by finding off-street parking options. If you can, please ask a friend or neighbour if you can 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.

Transit

Buses and O-Train service are running on a normal schedule.

For updates or trip planning assistance, please visit octranspo.com(link is external) or call 613-560-5000. You can also connect with OC Transpo on Facebook(link is external), X(link is external) (formerly Twitter), and Instagram(link is external).

Keep fire hydrants clear of snow

We encourage you to be a hydrant hero this winter and keep your local hydrant clear of snow. Clearing 0.5 meters around a hydrant maintains access for our firefighters and helps them keep you, your family and your community safe.

Contractors are reminded to not pile snow over or against hydrants when clearing pathways and driveways in the winter.

If you are unable to clear the hydrant on your property, please contact 3-1-1.

Yellow and blue hydrant with 1.5 metres of snow cleared around it.

Impacted programs and services

Recreation and culture programs

Recreation and culture programs and rentals are continuing as scheduled.

Waste and recycling collection

The City is not anticipating an impact to residential waste collection as a result of the significant weather event.

Residents can stay informed of curbside collection delays by signing up to receive notifications through the Ottawa Collection Calendar app; download the mobile app or register for email updates by entering your address and clicking on “Get a reminder!”.

Be prepared

What if there is a power outage?

Battery-operated (or crank) radios are an important tool for you during a power outage.

The City shares critical information and public service announcements with our local news media so that they can include it in their news coverage.

If there is a power outage and you can’t access information online, tune into your local news radio channel for the latest information. You can also access information in your local daily or community newspaper.

Look out for each other

During emergencies, you can act as a vital line for those who need assistance or important information. Have a conversation now with neighbours, friends and family members about how to stay in touch with each other in the event of an emergency.

Plan to check in on neighbours, friends and family members – especially those who are vulnerable – to see if they need assistance and update them with the latest information and instructions.

Equipment to have on hand

Check your emergency preparedness kit to make sure it’s stocked with:

  • Battery or crank powered radio
  • Fresh batteries
  • Prepaid phone card
  • Mobile phone charger
  • Landline telephone that does not require electricity

Additional resources

For more information about:

Who to call