Schools, offices close Thursday in Hamilton area after heavy snowfall, while city issues cold alert
City issued a cold weather alert for Thursday night
After much of southern Ontario was hit with a winter storm Wednesday night, schools in the Hamilton, Brantford and Burlington areas were closed Thursday, while schools in Niagara remained open, though buses were cancelled.
Environment Canada ended its winter storm warning for Hamilton on Thursday morning.
On Thursday afternoon, Hamilton's medical officer of health issued a cold weather alert for Thursday night, which takes effect when the forecast calls for temperatures below -15 C or a wind chill of -20. Cold alerts trigger a response in which the city and community groups work to provide warm spaces for people in need.
Earlier in the day, McMaster University was closed. All scheduled classes, labs, studios and events — in person and remote — were cancelled, it said in an email. All Mohawk College campuses were closed, as were in-person classes and on-campus events. The college said on X that virtual classes and services will continue as scheduled.
Six Nations Polytechnic was also closed.
WATCH | OPP officer describes rough road conditions in wild winter storm:
Public transit changes and city facilities closed
GO transit said it has modified its service to accommodate for the weather. Many trains leaving West Harbour, for instance, will make all stops to Union Station, arriving later than expected.
The Hamilton Street Railway said many of its buses were delayed and warned trips may take longer than usual.
City of Hamilton administrative offices and city hall were closed today, the city said on X.
Hamilton recreation centres, senior centres, arenas, golf facilities, community halls, and recreation administrative offices would be closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Afternoon programs, services and rentals should resume then, the city said.
All Hamilton Public Library branches were closed for the day.
Where are the snowplows? The city's Plow Tracking map shows where snow maintenance vehicles have been in the last two hours.
Officers "continue to respond to collisions and vehicles stuck in snow drifts across the GTA," the OPP said on social media early Thursday morning.
Expect 'hazardous' road conditions, OPP says
OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said, in an early morning post on X, "Do yourself [and everybody else a favour]. Stay home and let the system pass.
"Once we get everything plowed and cleared and the snow is done," drivers will be in a "much better position to be out on the roads," he said.
On social media, Ontario's Ministry of Transportation warned of "hazardous" road conditions.
"Significant winter storm should end today but not before getting a few more centimetres of snow. Extreme cold in the North, snow squalls in the South. Motorists should expect hazardous winter driving conditions and adjust travel plans accordingly," it said on X.
Community organizations close for the day
Some centres also announced closures early Thursday, including Compass Community Health, Niwasa Hamilton, De dwa da dehs nye>s Aboriginal Health Centre and morning classes at the Dundas Valley School of Art. Offices, such as the Immigrants Working Centre, also said they would be closed.
The YMCA of Hamilton, Burlington and Brantford were closed all day, as well as school-aged childcare centres. EarlyOn locations in Hamilton, Burlington and Brantford were also closed. The YMCA Beyond the Bell locations in Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations were closed as well.
The YMCA announced all employment, training and settlement offices were closed. The agency said all appointments will be virtual.
BGC Hamilton-Halton also cancelled all programs, including all child-care sites, all before and after school program sites, the Let's Get Moving program, aquatics and adult day programs.
Community Living Hamilton would be closed for all non-essential programs and services today. Its Group Living Residential sites "will continue to provide service as scheduled."
Hamilton waste collection may be delayed
The City of Hamilton said its waste collection services were delayed but expected to complete their routes, except where vehicles can't access streets due to snow or parked cars.
Recycling routes served by a contractor may be delayed and some routes not completed.
If your waste is not picked up today, please put it back out by 7 a.m. on Friday, the city said.
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With files from Eva Salinas, Justin Chandler