After being hammered with snowfall amounts that haven't fallen in 50 years, municipal crews are busy cleaning up the mess.
During this most recent snowfall, Environment Canada is reporting 36 cm (14 in) fell in the area. That's just shy of the 36.8 cm (14.5 in) that fell on February 25, 1965, according to Environment Canada Warning Preparedness Meteorologist Peter Kimbell. The highest single-day snowfall was recorded January 24, 1873 with 40.6 cm (16 in).
Snow plows in Windsor have been working around the clock and have cleared all main routes. Crews have started plowing residential streets and anticipate all roadways will be plowed by Tuesday evening. Public Works crews in Chatham-Kent have also been battling drifting snow as removal efforts continue.
Windsor police were also busy, responding to 30 weather-related collisions in the last 24 hours. Constable Andrew Drouillard says all were minor in nature. "Don't drive too fast and increase your following distance between people," says Drouillard. "Everybody help each other out. If you see somebody stuck, help them out if you can."
Chatham-Kent police say as of this morning, officers had already responded to 11 calls for abandoned vehicles and 11 motor vehicle collisions.
Parking on the street in Chatham-Kent is prohibited until 4pm Wednesday so crews can clear the roads. The Town of Lakeshore has declared a snow emergency and is asking all drivers to avoid parking on municipal streets.
All Essex County roads are passable, although with the blowing snow it's making for some very hazardous driving conditions. County Engineer Tom Bateman says 18 trucks have been plowing and salting since yesterday. “With these cold temperatures and the snow is very light and fluffy, so visibility behind the plows is poor and trying to pass one is not a good idea,” says Bateman.
In Windsor, all residential garbage and recycling collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of this week. Residents with alley collection are asked to place both their garbage and recycling at the curb for this week only.
Click here for a complete list of closures in Windsor-Essex.
Click here for a complete list of closures in Chatham-Kent.
