Blinding whiteouts, strong winds and snow squalls in effect, says Environment Canada

Snow squalls along Highway 11 in Gravenhurst, Ont., on Fri., Nov. 29, 2024. (CTV News/Rob Cooper)

The combination of new snow and strong winds causing blinding whiteouts made for a challenging day for drivers on highway 26 near Thornbury.

The strong winds expected to strengthen on Monday, “We are going to see the gusts up to 80-kilometres-an-hour. What we are seeing is this cold front coming right across the province and it is brining these nasty winds and a temperature change,” said Dave Phillips with Environment Canada.

The temperature change resulted in warmer conditions but Environment Canada says that too will change. Monday, school buses in the north were cancelled leaving kids at home, yet again.

“The snow days are a lot. The kids are missing a lot school days to snow days”, said Jayme Bruckner a local.

Up in Bracebridge, Town staff are bracing for what seems to be an endless dumping of snow all season and the potential for more on the way...

“It’s been consistent we’ve been pretty much getting bombed. It hasn’t been just small storms it’s been just heavy, heavy storms just continuing and non-stop,” said John Mitchell a snow plow driver for the Town.

Home owners in the Town are asked to help municipal crews by clearing the fire hydrants on their street and avoiding over night parking where it’s not allowed.

“Our side streets are getting very, very narrow. We have crews and blowers that are now removing a lot of those banks... they do pose a bit of a safety issue in terms of people in and out of their driveway and pedestrians and things like that, so we are trying to address that the best we can,” said Rick Maloney the Mayor of Bracebridge.

Accumulated snow on roofs is starting to become an issue. Some snow piling up to concerning heights. And of course people being warned to be prepared for potential hydro outrages if those winds pick up.