Important city statement about Tuesday's anticipated snowstorm

With a potentially crippling snowstorm expected Tuesday, the City of Sault Ste. Marie is asking residents to avoid parking on the street, even during the day.

"This is going to make, certainly a significant event," Larry Girardi, deputy chief administrative officer for public works and engineering services, told tonight's meeting of City Council.

"Our teams are going to be working on keeping the mains and collectors open."

Keeping vehicles off the streets during the day “would be appreciated, because if not, there’s a potential issue of being plowed in with a fair bit of snow,” Girardi said.

If you’re thinking city work crews might keep the end of your driveway open, think again.

”I must make it public right now, we won’t be going around cleaning the ends of driveways,” Girardi said.

”This is snow plowing. We’re not scraping.... Your driveway could have a substantial amount of snow but I certainly don’t have the equipment or the manpower to be doing that during events.”

City garbage collectors are going to try to complete regular Tuesday trash collection.

”Last Tuesday, garbage collection was cancelled due to an event. And here we are again, a week later on a Tuesday, another garbage day. We’re hoping to get a garbage day in. We’re going to do our best. It might be a little slow-going.”

The latest Environment Canada weather statement, issued just before 4 p.m. Monday, calls for 10 to 20 centimetres of snow in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Joseph Island, Searchmont, Montreal River Harbour and Batchawana Bay.

The storm is expected to start Tuesday afternoon and continue into Wednesday.

"Easterly winds gusting up to 60 kilometres an hour will cause reduced visibilities in blowing snow," the weather statement says.

"Travel is likely to be affected. This snow is associated with a Colorado low that will cross Ontario Tuesday and Wednesday."

Girardi told City Council that the city's best information indicates the new snowfall could total as much as 25 centimetres, with 80 kilometre-an-hour winds.

Mayor Christian Provenzano pointed out that Sault Fire Services has responded to two major fires in the past two weeks, and public works has assisted at the fire scenes.

”The guys are getting tired, so if we can all exercise a little patience with them during this next winter storm event, we’d appreciate it,” the mayor said.

The full text of Environment Canada's weather alert follows:

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Special weather statement in effect for:

• Sault Ste. Marie - St. Joseph Island
• Searchmont - Montreal River Harbour - Batchawana Bay

Winter storm with 10 to 20 cm of snow and blowing snow Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday.

Snow will begin Tuesday afternoon. Easterly winds gusting up to 60 km/h will cause reduced visibilities in blowing snow. Total snowfall amounts of 10 to 20 cm are possible before the snow tapers off Wednesday afternoon. Travel is likely to be affected.

This snow is associated with a Colorado Low that will cross Ontario Tuesday and Wednesday.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to [email protected] or tweet reports using #ONStorm.

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