Barrie declares significant weather event

Digging out after snow squalls hammer region Heavy snowfall hammers the region leaving residents digging out.

The City of Barrie has declared a significant weather event on Saturday morning in response to the persistent snowfall in the area.

In a media release, city staff stated that the declaration is effective as of 9:15 a.m., and that they expect travel and services throughout the municipality to continue getting impacted.

Motorists and residents are advised by the city to use extra caution while the significant weather event is in effect.

City staff add that crews might not be able to meet maintenance standards for roads, bike lanes and sidewalks due to the significant amount of snowfall expected, and that it may take longer than usual to bring them back to optimal conditions.

The snowsqualls that have persisted Friday evening into Saturday morning and the ongoing Environment Canada snowsquall warnings are cited as reasons for the significant weather event declaration. It was made in accordance with the Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways according to the city.

Environment Canada had downgraded its snowsquall warning for Barrie to a watch Friday afternoon but upgraded it back to a warning late Friday evening. The national weather agency's storm total for their Barrie-Oro station was an estimated 56 centimetres of snow as of Friday at noon.

Residents are reminded that winter parking restrictions are to remain in effect. Specifically, on-street parking is prohibited on city streets from 12:01 a.m. until 7 a.m., and from 3 a.m. until 6 a.m. within the Downtown Business Improvement Area from December 1 through March 31.

Residents are also reminded to shovel a small area at the bottom of their driveways for garbage, recycling boxes, green bins and Christmas trees, and to not place them on top of snowbanks.

City staff say they will provide an update when the significant weather event ends.

The City of wen Sound and the Township of Springwater also made signficant weather event declarations on Saturday.