Vaughan declares a Significant Weather Event

Take extra precautions, drive safely and avoid unnecessary travel 

The City of Vaughan has declared a Significant Weather Event based on a winter storm warning issued by Environment Canada. 

A winter storm is expected to begin this evening (Friday, March 3) and continue into Saturday, March 4, with snowfall accumulation between 20 centimetres and 30 centimetres. Significantly reduced visibility due to heavy and blowing snow is expected. 

The City has a fleet of more than 230 vehicles – including salter/snowplow units, windrow machines, sidewalk machines, pickup trucks equipped with plows and salters, cul-de-sac-clearing machines and anti-icing units – to ensure citizens are provided with high-quality winter services. Due to the forecasted conditions, it may take longer than usual to clear City roads, sidewalks and/or bicycle lanes. Staff will continue to monitor weather forecasts and make the necessary decisions and adjustments to operations.

Community centres and Vaughan Public Libraries remain open, and programming is running as scheduled at this time. Staff continue to monitor weather conditions and any future closures or program cancellations will be shared as information becomes available. 

Residents are reminded to take precautions, including avoiding unnecessary travel, taking frequent breaks to avoid overexertion when shovelling snow and bringing pets inside. 

A Significant Weather Event is defined as an approaching or occurring weather hazard with the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the highways within a municipality. Examples of severe weather include freezing rain, significant snowfall, blowing snow and reduced visibility. The Ontario Regulation 239/02, Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways allows municipalities to declare a Significant Weather Event when Environment Canada issues a weather alert and when that weather hazard has the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the highways which they have authority over. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Help winter operations run effectively and efficiently by following these tips:

• Keep parked cars off the street while snowplows are out to assist the City in ensuring streets are cleared properly and safely. On-street parking is not permitted between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. in Vaughan.
• Clear snow and ice from sidewalks bordering your property as soon as a snowfall has ended to help ensure roads and sidewalks remain safe, as stated in the City’s Snow-Clearing By-law 227-2022 (PDF). 
• Remove anything from your property that may interfere with or be hazardous to plow crews. This includes landscaping features, such as fencing, basketball nets, decorative stones, pots, bird baths, furniture and more, as stated in the City’s Encroachment By-law 034-2017 (PDF). These items should be within 30 centimetres of a sidewalk or within one metre of a street curb.
• Be mindful of where snow is placed. It is illegal to shovel snow or ice onto the road under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act and the City’s Dumping By-law (PDF).
• Stay off the roads during a heavy snowstorm unless travel is essential. You can also use York Region Transit to get around the city during inclement weather.
• Clean snow off all surfaces of your vehicle before driving and keep a safe distance away from snowplows and salting equipment.  
• Set waste bins back from the curb approximately one metre on the right-hand side of the driveway, where possible (when facing the home). Doing this will reduce the risk of bins and bags getting covered in snow during the City’s snow-clearing process. Waste bins or bags buried in snow, frozen to the ground, on top of or behind snowbanks will not be collected. Crews cannot return for materials that are not accessible for collection. 
• Keep fire hydrants clear and accessible (one metre all around). Blocked, concealed or difficult-to-access fire hydrants can slow down emergency fire response. As outlined in the City’s Water By-law 106-2022 (PDF), citizens who have a fire hydrant on their property or City property adjacent to theirs are responsible for ensuring the hydrant is always visible and unobstructed.
• Help keep catch basins clear of snow and ice to prevent flooding during temperature fluctuations if it’s safe to do so. 

MORE INFORMATION

For additional details and to receive the latest information on Vaughan’s winter operations:

• visit vaughan.ca/snow
• contact the Snow Hotline at 905-879-SNOW (7669) or email snow@vaughan.ca
• follow the City’s official corporate channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
• subscribe to Vaughan News