The County of Renfrew has declared a Significant Weather Event in response to an Environment Canada freezing rain warning, citing hazardous conditions expected to impact travel and municipal services.
The declaration, made under Ontario Regulation 239/02 governing minimum maintenance standards for municipal highways, is in effect as significant freezing rain is forecast to begin Sunday evening and continue into Monday morning. Environment Canada warns ice build-up of 15 to 20 millimetres is possible on some surfaces.
A Significant Weather Event is declared when weather conditions pose a serious risk to road users and temporarily suspends standard timelines for winter road maintenance. During the event, the county will monitor conditions and deploy resources when deemed appropriate. Normal maintenance timelines will resume once the event is declared over.
County officials stress the declaration does not signal road closures or a reduced level of service, but serves as a public notice that hazardous conditions may prolong cleanup efforts.
Forecasters warn roads and walkways are likely to become icy and slippery, with hazardous travel conditions, possible impassable routes and a high risk of prolonged power outages. Residents are urged to avoid non-essential travel.
