Winter slams Kincardine area again, causing road closures

After a couple of days of warm, rainy weather, winter returned with a vengeance, slamming the Kincardine area Wednesday afternoon and causing road closures and event cancellations.

Problems began just after 7 a.m., when Ripley, Lucknow, Teeswater, Wingham and the surrounding area lost power due to a loss of supply from Hydro One, according to Westario Power. About 3,000 customers in these villages, and hundreds more in the rural area, as well as a number in the Walkerton area, were without power until it was restored around 10:30 a.m.

Then the real fun began, as the wind picked up, causing blowing and drifting snow. Highway 21, south of Tiverton, was closed because of a multi-vehicle pile-up due to the snowstorm.

The Kincardine municipal administration centre was closed by 11:30 a.m.
 

Environment Canada issued a snow squall warning at 10:30 a.m., emphasizing that under the snow-squall bands, visibility is significantly reduced due to the heavy snow combined with blowing snow, and snow will quickly accumulate.

Snow squalls developed east of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay Wednesday afternoon, with snowfall amounts of 10-15 centimetres by the evening. Also, strong gusty westerly winds caused extensive blowing snow and white-out conditions.
 

Fanshawe College afternoon and evening classes in Tiverton and Kincardine were cancelled because of weather conditions.

By 1 p.m., Highway 21 was closed from Amberley to Port Elgin due to the blowing and drifting snow and zero visibility. And by 4 p.m., Highway 9 from Kincardine to south of Mildmay, was also closed.

As of 5:30 p.m., Highway 21 from Amberley to Southampton was closed; and Highway 9 from Kincardine to Harriston was closed. Bruce County Road 10 from Hanover to Highway 21, and the Grey-Bruce Line from Scone to Highway 21 were also closed.
 

For those who decide to travel, keep your headlights and tail lights on and clear of snow. Remember to keep your speed down - “If you see snow, go slow” - or better yet, “Stay Safe …. Stay Home.”
 

For up-to-date road/weather information, visit: www.brucecounty.on.ca/road-conditions.php or call Bruce County Roads at 1-866-266-7569, Option “2”.



Blowing and drifting snow, on Highway 21, beside Kincardine Home Hardware, Wednesday afternoon



Blowing and drifting snow, on Highway 21, beside Kincardine Home Hardware, Wednesday afternoon, looking north



Blowing and drifting snow, on Highway 21, beside Kincardine Home Hardware, Wednesday afternoon, looking south



A snowplow heading south on Highway 21 beside the Kincardine Home Hardware