A “highly impactful winter storm” packing up to 40 centimetres of snow is expected to wallop the capital starting Wednesday evening, Environment Canada says.
The agency issued a winter storm warning for Ottawa-Gatineau at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, upgrading a winter storm watch issued earlier. A separate winter storm warning was issued Tuesday for western Quebec.
Forecasters are predicting 30 to 40 centimetres of snowfall, with up to five centimetres per hour falling at the storm’s peak.
The snow is expected to continue falling though Wednesday night into Thursday morning, and will taper off by Thursday afternoon.
Environment Canada meteorologist Trudy Kidd said this will be the biggest winter storm to hit Ottawa since 2022, when 47.8 centimetres of snow fell.
Bryden Denyes, manager of road operations for the City of Ottawa, said the city has been busy preparing its plows and snowblowers in anticipation of the coming storm.
“We’ll be trying to keep the roads clear, sidewalks clear, everything open,” he said. “It’s really trying to deploy those resources as best we can.”
Environment Canada recommends avoiding highway travel during the storm. Motorists who must travel should tell someone about their plans before setting out. They’re also advised to charge their cell phones and have food, water, a flashlight and medical supplies including medication and a first aid kit on hand.
“It’s a great idea to postpone travel, cancel it if possible. Go earlier, when the storm hasn’t arrived yet, and be sure to be wherever you need to be before it hits,” Kidd said, adding snowfall is forecast to begin around 6 p.m.
Const. Shawn Peever with the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP said drivers should slow down, leave plenty of space between vehicles, clear their vehicles of snow and keep scrapers, washer fluid and a small shovel on hand.
Peever said he hopes the advanced notice of the storm will reduce collisions.
“If you must go to whatever destination that you’re heading to, giving yourself extra time and planning ahead, it’s really important to do that. You don’t want to be in a rush, and we want people to be driving slower for sure, based on the conditions that are forecasted,” he said.