First snowstorm of the season could bring 5-15 cm of snow to Ottawa on Sunday

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement, indicating an early November snowfall is coming to the capital. CTV’s Natalie van Rooy reports.

Ottawa is set to experience its first taste of winter weather this weekend, with as much as 15 centimetres of snow expected on Sunday.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Ottawa, warning that accumulating snow will start Sunday morning and continue until Sunday night.

“A low-pressure system could bring significant snowfall to parts of southern Ontario on Sunday,” the weather agency said in a statement.

“Confidence remains low with respect to the strength and track of this weather system, and as such the areas affected and snowfall amounts may change.”

Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips tells CTV News Ottawa that while the track of the system remains uncertain, “it looks like a sure thing” Ottawa will see snow on Sunday.

“I think the good news is it’s on the weekend. The bad news is it’s not a trace of snow,” Phillips said Friday afternoon.

“We’re calling for, maybe, five to 10 centimetres of snow. That’s a good amount. It won’t be the biggest one-day dump in Ottawa this winter, I am sure. For the first, it’s noticeable. The ground is warm, the roads are warm so there will be a lot of melting with this snow, initially.”

Phillips said the Kingston area could see rain and snow on Sunday, while Ottawa will just see snow.

Environment Canada’s forecast calls for snow on Sunday, followed by winter temperatures on Monday night with a low of -13 C.

The City of Ottawa’s roads crews are now in “full preparation mode” for the first snowfall of the season.

“We’re working with our staff, making sure everybody is ready,” Bryden Denyes, Ottawa’s manager of area roads, told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s The Morning Rush with Bill Carroll on Friday morning.

“We’re doing final touches on our equipment; all of our yards are fully loaded with our salt and materials we need. So that’s happening right now, but this prep has been going on for the last couple of weeks, months, just leading up to this point.”

Denyes said with the ground still being soft, the snow-clearing operations will focus on limiting damage to the ground.

“We still have to do the same function, but one of the biggest things is there’s no frost in the ground right now, so everything is really soft,” Denyes said.

“The messaging we have to our staff is – we’re practicing beats, they need to know their beats. They need to know where they’re going, look for obstructions. These early storms are all about slow and steady; take your time, make sure you’re doing it. We will see, unfortunately, if we have to go, some sod damage to the grass and dirt that will happen because of that soft ground.

“Slow and steady will reduce the damage.”

Owner of Genuine Auto Service Kieran Bernhardt says requests for seasonal tire changes started slow this year with the warm early-October weather, but have been ramping up of late.

“With everything getting cold really quick, the phones have just been ringing off the hook. We’re booked about three weeks out right now,” Bernhardt said.

Bernhardt suggests getting tires changed sooner rather than later, before its becomes even harder to get an appointment.

“Make sure you have good tires on for the snow,” Bernhardt said. “Proper winter tires, really make a difference with the ice and slush and everything.”

Last winter, the first trace of snow was recorded at the Ottawa Airport on Nov. 27. A total of 2.2 cm of snow was recorded on Dec. 1.

Weekend weather forecast

It’s expected to be a rainy start to the weekend and a snowy end.

Periods of rain will end this evening then cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of drizzle or showers overnight. The temperature will rise to 10 C by the morning.

Saturday will be cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of showers in the morning. It will become a mix of sun and cloud in the afternoon. High 4 C.

Snow is expected on Sunday. High 2 C.

The outlook for Monday calls for mainly cloudy. High 1 C.

The normal temperatures for this time of year are a high of 7 C and a low of -1 C.