Significant Weather Events

The declaration of a significant weather event is not a notice of reduced service levels or a road closure. It is to notify the public that due to the forecasted or current weather conditions, caution is to be exercised when travelling on Municipal streets and sidewalks, and that it may take longer than usual to restore conditions back to a normal state of repair. The Municipality of West Grey will notify the public of a significant weather event via its website and social media channels and Municipal 511.

Per Regulation 239/02 of the Ontario Municipal Act, a municipality may declare a significant weather event when a weather hazard, either forecasted or occurring, has the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the roadways in which they have authority. This declaration suspends the standard timelines required for municipalities to meet their winter maintenance objectives. All roadways and/or sidewalks are deemed in a state of repair with respect to snow accumulation and/or ice conditions, until the municipality declares the significant weather event has ended.

In each case, during the course of a declared significant weather event, the standard for addressing winter maintenance is to monitor the weather and deploy resources to address the issue, starting from the time the Municipality deems it most appropriate to do so.

Significant weather events remain in effect until the posted end time or until a cancellation is issued. When the Municipality declares an event has ended, standard timelines for winter maintenance activities then begin. 

Conditions in which a significant weather event may be declared:

• Significant snow accumulation during a 24-hour period
• Ice formation that occurs without warning from the weather forecast
• High winds leading to blowing snow and large snow drifts
• Freezing temperatures when de-icing operations will not be effective

A follow up notice will be issued when the declaration is over.