Plowing priority shifts to County’s primary roads – OPP closing roads

UPDATE 8:16 – PEC OPP are closing the roads in the southern part of the county (County Road 33 and Picton south) due to bad visibility.
Const. Patrick Menard states plowing is to re-start once it becomes clearer, but when is currently is unknown.

“The OPP are advising citizens to stay home and off the roads unless absolutely necessary.”

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As the snow continues to fall and squall, the municipality is focusing on plowing of primary roads after 5 p.m. tonight.

Mark Kerr, the County’s Media and Communications Coordinator, said plowing began overnight Tuesday and has continued since. Plowing on secondary roads is expected to resume at 4 am on Thursday, Jan. 31 when the current snow squalls are expected to stop.

The Prince Edward County detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police is advising motorists to stay off the roads due to white out conditions, reducing visibility to zero at times.

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health is issuing a cold weather health warning to alert residents of Hastings and Prince Edward Counties to the bitterly cold wind chills expected tonight and tomorrow night. Residents are urged to take precautions in these extremely cold temperatures to avoid health complications such as wind burn, frostbite and hypothermia.

Environment Canada reports wind will continue to gust into this evening up to 60km/h. A low of -18C will feel like -22 with the wind chill and -30 overnight.

This afternoon’s forecast suggests flurries will continue Thursday with a risk of snow squalls and a further 2cm of snow. Expect a wind chill of -30 in the morning.

The better weather news is forecast for Friday with a predicted mix of sun and cloud, a high of -10C and low of -17 and moving into a balmy -7C Saturday and 1C Sunday.