Significant Weather Events
The Township of Wainfleet may declare a significant weather event when the weather forecast or actual weather conditions meet a certain criteria. News alerts will notify the public of these declarations.
What is a significant weather event?
As per 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. When the municipality declares an event has ended, standard timelines for winter maintenance activities then begin.
Weather definitions
Blizzard |
When winds of 40 km/hr or greater are expected to cause widespread reductions in visibility to 400 metres or less, due to blowing snow, or blowing snow in combination with falling snow, for at least 4 hours |
Blowing snow |
When blowing snow, caused by winds of at least 30 km/hr, is expected to reduce visibility to 800 metres or less for at least 3 hours |
Extreme cold |
Issued when the temperature or wind chill is expected to reach minus 30° C (degrees Celsius) for at least two hours |
Flash freeze |
When significant ice is expected to form on roads, sidewalks, or other surfaces over much of a region because of the freezing of residual water from either melted snow, or falling/fallen rain due to a rapid drop in temperature |
Freezing rain |
When freezing rain is expected to pose a hazard to transportation or property or when freezing rain is expected for at least 2 hours |
Freezing drizzle |
When a period of freezing drizzle is expected for at least 8 hours |
Snow fall |
When 15 cm or more of snow falls within 12 hours or less |
Snow squall |
When, downwind of large bodies of water, like the Great Lakes, snow squalls are imminent or occurring with one or more of the following conditions being produced:
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Winter storm |
When severe and potentially dangerous winter weather conditions are expected, including:
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