Drivers lacking appropriate tires struggled to navigate unplowed streets in London, sliding through intersections during their morning travels following an overnight snowfall.
According to Joel Gillard, who oversees the city’s snow plow operations, the substantial snowfall began around 4 a.m.
“We are deploying all available resources to address this, and we will continue our efforts throughout the day,” Gillard stated.
“Our salters have been active since 8:30 p.m. last night. By 3:30 a.m., the roads were in decent shape, but once the squall hit central London, we faced challenges with accumulation.”
The Catholic District School Board along with the Thames Valley District School Board decided to close all schools in Middlesex and Elgin counties, which includes locations such as Strathroy, Delaware, Dorchester, Parkhill, Lucan, St. Thomas, Aylmer, West Lorne, and Glencoe.
All school buses in Elgin and Middlesex counties, including those in the red zone, were cancelled for the day, while buses in Oxford County and within the city of London continued to operate as scheduled.
Schools in London and Oxford County remain open.
The Ontario Provincial Police reported several accidents on Hwy. 401 early this morning and urged drivers to reduce their speed. “Motorists may still face reduced visibility and poor road conditions due to the weather,” an OPP officer shared on X.
Vehicles were also experiencing difficulties on London roads, with some unable to ascend hills without snow tires.
Approximately 9 cm of snow accumulated at the London airport overnight, but farther south, some individuals reported up to 60 cm, according to Environment Canada meteorologist Nedia Jagdeo.
“We are predicting a snowfall ranging from 10 to 20 cm today, possibly exceeding that,” Jagdeo noted. “The band appears quite intense over London, with snowfall rates of 5 to 10 cm per hour.”
Snowfall is anticipated to decrease by mid-morning, although a snow squall warning remains in effect for London and parts of eastern Middlesex County.
The upcoming days are expected to be warmer, Jagdeo added. Environment Canada is forecasting flurries or showers on Wednesday, with a high of eight degrees and sunny conditions by Thursday.
“If you’re heading out today, allow yourself extra time on the roads,” Jagdeo advised.
One flight from the London International Airport was cancelled this morning due to the snowfall, but all other flights are expected to depart on schedule.