Snow Squall Watch In Effect – Driving Could Be Hazardous

8:49 AM EST Sunday 04 January 2015
Snow squall watch in effect for:

Goderich – Bluewater – Southern Huron County
Listowel – Milverton – Northern Perth County
Stratford – Mitchell – Southern Perth County
Wingham – Blyth – Northern Huron County
Persistent snow squalls are expected to develop. Under the snow squall bands, visibilities will be significantly reduced due to the heavy snow combined with blowing snow, and snow will quickly accumulate.

Much colder air will return to southern Ontario this evening. This northwest flow of cold air rushing over the relatively warm waters of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay will generate snow squalls. Snow squalls are expected to develop this evening and persist into Monday evening. Local snowfall rates of 15 cm per 12 hours are possible under the strongest snow squalls.

Motorists should expect hazardous driving conditions from nil visibility in bursts of heavy snow and local blowing snow in the snow squalls.

Visibility may be significantly and suddenly reduced to near zero. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. Public Safety Canada encourages everyone to make an emergency plan and get an emergency kit with drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kit and a flashlight. For information on emergency plans and kits go to http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/

Snow Squall Watches are issued when conditions are favourable for the formation of bands of snow that could produce intense accumulating snow or near zero visibilities.

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