Extreme cold easing Wednesday
Administrator | Jan 07, 2014 | Comments 11
Can you see the snow plow coming toward you in this photograph?
-OPP Const. Anthony Mann photo
UPDATE: Wednesday morning: The extreme cold is easing today. Expect a few flurries this afternoon and evening. The temperature should climb to a high of -9C this afternoon, but will feel like -18. Wind at 30km/h with gusts to 45 km/h.
Roads much more accessible, but still tricky in places.
* * *
UPDATE 9:30 p.m. Tuesday: Snow squall warning continues for County tonight. Frequent zero visibility. Wind chills will remain in the -30 to -35 range until Wednesday morning. Then a whopping -8 high Wednesday afternoon will be welcome though still feel like -15.
* * *
Bone chilling wind and blowing snow have created havoc in Prince Edward County today. The OPP is advising drivers to stay off the roads.
OPP have closed Highway 33 between County Road 19 South and Lakeside Drive due to poor visibility. This morning there was an accident involving several vehicles on County Road 33 near Consecon.
“We are encouraging local residents not to drive today if they don’t have to,” said Anthony Mann, community services officer. “Adverse weather conditions are making driving conditions hazardous. Motorists should be prepared having extra warm clothing, washer fluid and of course slow down and drive accordingly.”
At lunch time, Ashley Stewart, the County’s communications officer, reports there is a broken water main on East Mary Street in Picton. It will be closed from Bridge Street to York Street until about 9 p.m. tonight.
“Reduced water pressure and possible coloured water may be experienced,” she said. “Residents are asked to reduce water use until repairs are complete. Once pressure resumes, flushing inside taps can help to refresh and restores water.”
Mandatory construction work is taking place and heavy equipment will limit visibility. Drivers are asked to avoid the area.
The County is continuing with snow removal efforts but expects delays in servicing some roads and areas.
With snow squall, wind chill and wind warnings in effect, there are whiteouts throughout much of the County and visibility is poor to nil. The roads are considered dangerous.
Snow squall, wind warning and wind chill warnings remain in place. West winds of 70 km/h with gusts of 90 to 100 km/h will be mainly near the lakeshore. Environment Canada reports the winds are to slowly diminish tonight.
School buses were cancelled this morning and five County schools were closed to students due to hazardous driving conditions. Few students were at each of the schools. Staff staying until all students were picked up from Athol-South Marysburgh Public School, C.M.L. Snider School, Pinecrest Memorial Elementary School, Prince Edward Collegiate Institute and Queen Elizabeth School.
All other schools remain open.
The Ameliasburgh, Consecon and Milford branches of the County library are closed today. The free movie at the Ameliasburgh Town Hall for this evening is also cancelled. Picton and Wellington are still open. You may still access the library to browse the catalogue, order and renew books and materials online, view locations and hours and the events calendar by visiting the library online at: www.peclibrary.org
The -40 wind chill in Toronto has resulted in chaos at Pearson International Airport where a “ground stop” put landings on hold this morning. It has since been lifted and the airport expects some landings to take place this afternoon, but warns it could take days for the system to return to normal.
Pearson, on its Twitter account, warns “extreme cold is causing equipment freezing and safety issues for employees”.
On County Road 11, Jan. 7, 2014
Filed Under: Featured Articles
The OPP should be commended for their work to keep everyone safe yesterday. It was a terrible day for standing in the bitter cold and wind directing traffic and responding to accidents. We had OPP officers offer to guide some of our Bayfield staff through the witeout in Consecon, so they could make it home safely after Highway 33 was closed. Bayfield and our staff greatly appreciate their efforts to keep us all safe.
The big issue, as I recall, was not so much the depth of snow as it was the weight and hardness of it. It was possible to walk over the drifts and I even drove my old MF garden tractor over the drifts by the house without breaking through. Reminders of that storm can still be seen at Sandbanks and Presqu’ile Parks. Some of the young white cedars were bent over horizontally, creating what has been referred to as “horse trees” for once they resumed growing, they remained in a horizontal position, and then resumed their growth over the years skyward. They are quite the curiosity along the Marsh Boardwalk trail at Presqu’ile, where interpretive signs by younger staff who weren’t even born yet that year, have questioned how the trees may have become this way. Of course, we know! But, when we tell them, they just look at us old farts, and just smile! Yesterday was not a storm. It was just an old-fashioned winter day, albeit a day when you don’t bring up the term “global warming”!
I remember the storm of 77, my dad (Garnet Ackerman)was one of the snowmobilers who went around with medications and if I recall, I believe they took a Dr. out to Greenbush to deliver a baby, not so sure Greenbush is right but they took him somewhere to deliver a baby.
Sure Terry I remember 77 and if you went anywhere you walked. What I remember most is a group of snowmobilers went around the County delivering medicine and supplies to older people who were in need.
Another storm I remember was probably in the 40’s. We were blocked in for 2 weeks. Men used crosscut saws to saw the snow in blocks ahead of a maintainer that plowed the road after the blocks were removed. I was talking to a gentleman who was with that crew and he remembers coming into our house at Green Point and my mother gave all of them a meal. Of course we had plenty of food canned from the summer and mother made the best big roasting pans of chicken stew with biscuits on top. It was all great fun.
Down in Wesley Acres, surrounded by water. Wife ditched the Jeep and blew the rear tire off the back. I was in Belleville when I got the call. Whiteouts started at Moutainview on 62. Had to driver her back into belleville for work and go back home to get the Jeep out. Brother in-law ditched his plow truck 30′ from the Jeep on his way to help. Road had a complete whiteout when I showed up. We got a backhoe and tried to pull the truck out with a chain to the bucket of the backhoe and the 6-8 ton backhoe spun on the glare iced over road. Had to turn it around, plant the down riggers and bucket, then use the hoe to pull on the chain to get a truck that may weigh 2 ton(I believe a bit less). We got the truck out, but still made the backhoe slide with the riggers and all down. The Jeep(04Liberty) came out a bit easier, which weighs a tad over 2 ton. I found the storm a driving challenge, but I kind of enjoyed it. I don’t mind that kind of challenge.
I was born in 1977, but I remember pictures that my nanny showed us when we were little of that storm. I thought she was joking at first, because we always heard,” When I was your age we had to walk five miles in the snow to school.” I miss the county,and all the wonderful people.
Yes 1977!! Unbelievable and unfortunately most of my pics are gone. Certain there are many still around. The rare occurrence of a stalled low pressure with steady 70 km southwest winds that blasted blizzard conditions for 3 solid days and nights. Once in a lifetime storm or longer. Last night’s and today’s storm was a whimper in comparison!!
Being of your vintage, Terry, I remember the blizzard of 1977. The snow was so high on our road if we stood on the top of the mounds we were shoulder level with the hydro wires. The A & P (then located on Elizabeth Street) was open but the shelves were mostly bare since delivery vehicles couldn’t get into The County. A lot of meal-sharing went on until the runway cleaners came in from Trenton.
Ah – a man of my vintage! That was an amazing storm! On Big Island, where I live, the snow plough (maintainer) got as far as our driveway and could go no farther, leaving this huge imprint of a snow plough blade. Folks on the north shore were stranded for a few days and the snowblowers from CFB Trenton eventually got the crossroads ploughed. I find it amusing as I get older, that fewer and fewer people remember or even believe our stories about the “Blizzard of ’77”, much as few ever believe that the train used to go down Pinnacle Street in Belleville and on over to Great St. James Street. It’s fun being old(er) and able to remember these things!
Yeah stay.off.the roafs but with places like highline mushrooms where they keep thete employees all hoirs of the day and like to day massive wind storm and blowing snow and therw still at work and probw be there till 8 or even later . Bit the police say stay of the roads and they say “come to work no matter what and we will keep you all night” and we know there is people who get to leave when its still light out. Bit the rest have to risk there lives drivingbin the dark to night and are expected to come to work tomorrow. Tell me there isnt anything wrong with that …… concerned very concerned
Bad but nothing compared to 1977!