Kitchener has announced a snow event starting at 2 a.m. Saturday, lasting for 24 hours. During this period, parking is not allowed on city streets. (CBC)
A winter storm swept through the Waterloo region on Friday, leading the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge to declare a snow event. The storm is expected to drop as much as 15 centimetres of snow by the evening, with winds gusting between 50 and 80 km/h, making travel hazardous.
Snowfall and Mixed Weather in the Forecast
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement on Thursday, warning of the expected snowfall. The statement noted that the snow may be mixed with rain at times, especially in the afternoon and evening. The storm has already caused major disruptions, and cities are taking action to ensure roads are clear and safe.
Parking Bans and Snow Removal Policies
As part of the snow event, several parking restrictions have been put in place across the region to allow snowplows to clear the streets effectively.
In Kitchener, residents are required to move their vehicles off city streets by 2 a.m. Saturday. The parking ban will last for 24 hours, with a ticket of $100 issued for any vehicles left on the streets during this time. If a snowplow cannot pass due to a parked car, the vehicle may be towed.
Waterloo also has parking restrictions in place, with a deadline of 6 p.m. Friday to move cars off the street. The city is enforcing the parking ban for at least 24 hours, and overnight parking exemptions will not be allowed. In addition, a specific parking ban is in effect in Waterloo’s university district from 12:01 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. Saturday, March 14.
Cambridge has also declared a snow event and enforced a parking ban starting at 5 p.m. Friday. Snowplows are already out clearing roads, and the city is asking residents to respect the parking restrictions to allow for proper snow removal.
Highway Collisions and Closures Due to Snow
The snowstorm has caused several collisions on highways across southern Ontario, leading to road closures and significant traffic delays. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reported multiple incidents, including:
- Eastbound Hwy. 401 from Guelph Line to Milton closed due to snow and poor road conditions.
- Westbound Hwy. 401 from Cedar Creek Road near Cambridge to Woodstock shut down around 12:15 p.m. due to multiple collisions.
- Westbound Hwy. 403 in Norwich Township was also affected by collisions and road closures.
- Eastbound Hwy. 402 at Wonderland Road S. in London was closed for about 90 minutes due to a multi-vehicle crash.
- Perth Line 20 between Perth Road 164 and 163 was closed due to a blocked vehicle caused by hazardous weather conditions.
- Hwy. 8 in West Perth was affected by a collision, further delaying traffic.
OPP Sergeant Ed Sanchuk shared a video on social media, reminding drivers to slow down in these winter conditions and stay alert, as the storm continues to cause challenges for motorists.
