City of Hamilton ends Significant Weather Event Declaration

HAMILTON, ON – The City of Hamilton is ending the Significant Weather Event declaration effective 8 am today. With the end of the declaration the 24-hour clock to complete clean up from this current storm is now active and the City must finish operations by Monday, March 6 at 8 am.

The City of Hamilton declared the Significant Weather Event effective 4:30 pm on Friday, March 3, as a result of significant snow accumulation which was forecasted over a 24-hour period in combination with high winds.

Hamilton received approximately 25 cm of very heavy snow beginning late Friday afternoon and finishing early Saturday morning. The storm caused numerous downed trees, closed roads, and vehicles in the ditch. Snow did turn to ice pellets and freezing rain in certain areas. Lack of visibility and unsafe conditions caused staff to pause operations on an as required basis in localized areas for driver safety during the overnight hours.

As per the Ontario Municipal Act, a municipality may declare a Significant Weather Event when a weather hazard, either forecasted or occurring, has the potential to pose significant impacts to road users on roads maintained by the City of Hamilton. A declaration suspends the standard timelines required for municipalities to meet their winter maintenance objectives.