With snow and strong winds expected to make driving dicey Wednesday, both Huron and Bruce counties have declared significant weather events.
Bruce was the first to make the declaration around 7 a.m., with Huron following suit at 8:30 a.m.
"The declaration is to notify the public that due to the current or forecasted conditions, caution is to be observed when travelling on Bruce County roads and that it may take longer than usual to bring the condition of the roads back to a state of repair," Bruce County said in a statement.
In its declaration, Huron County advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel and to use extra caution if heading out on the roads.
Much of midwestern Ontario is under a blowing snow advisory from Environment Canada. That includes Huron, Perth, southern Grey, and north Wellington counties. Southern Bruce and northern Grey counties have a winter weather travel advisory in effect, while Bruce Peninsula is under a snow squall warning.
The national weather agency has warned that a low pressure system that will move across the region throughout the day Wednesday will bring snow and strong wind gusts up to 70 km/h. Snow accumulation in Huron is anticipated to range between five to 10 centimetres, while Bruce County could see 10 to 20 centimetres of snow fall throughout the day.
The strong winds will cause the freshly fallen snow to blow around, drastically reducing visibility to near zero in spots, making travel hazardous. This has prompted OPP to remind drivers to take precautions.
"Please slow down. Drive according to the road and weather conditions. Leave enough time, room. and distance between you and other vehicles," OPP West Region Sergeant Ed Sanchuk said in a video posted to social media. "Signal your turns and please do us all a favour and turn on your entire headlighting system... you want to be seen by other motorists on our roadways. When you're coming into visibility issues you need to make sure your taillights are activated, so turn that switch to the on position for everyone's safety."
Sanchuk noted that as the snow began to fall in the morning, he had already witnessed drivers who were treating the roads as if it were a summer day.
"We do have people driving like it is 90 degrees outside. Everyone says 'it is never going to happen to me' until it does," said Sanchuk. "Please simply slow down and take your foot off that gas pedal. Pack an ample supply of patience and get home safe to your family without having a tow truck pulling you out of a ditch or having a police officer knocking at your door... traffic safety is everyone's responsibility ."
Among the measures OPP advise drivers to take before venturing out during the winter months is equipping their vehicle with snow tires, checking battery life, and inspecting wipers, lights and vehicle fluid levels. Drivers should also pack a roadside emergency kit with essentials such as a flashlight, blanket, first aid supplies, snacks, snow brush/ice scraper, and booster cables.
Once on the road, drivers should slow down, leave a safe following distance and avoid sudden maneuvers to maintain control of the vehicle.
Current road conditions and closures can be found by calling 511 or by visiting Ontario 511's website https://511on.ca.
