The City of London is currently experiencing a large-scale snow event. Environment Canada is predicting 10 to 20 cms of snow by Saturday morning with wind gusts up to 90 km/h creating widespread blowing snow which will reduce visibility to near zero at times.
Environment Canada has asked travellers to consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.
Cold Weather Alert
The Middlesex-London Health Unit has issued a Cold Weather Alert for December 23 and December 24, 2022. The following community centres will be available as warming centres during regular operating hours:
December 23, 2022:
- Earl Nichols Arena located at 799 Homeview Road (8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
- Stronach Arena located at 1221 Sanford Street (9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.)
- Medway Arena located at 119 Sherwood Forest Square (7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
December 24, 2022:
- Earl Nichols Arena located at 799 Homeview Road (7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
- Carling Heights Optimist Community Centre located at 656 Elizabeth Street (9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
All London Public Library locations welcome Londoners to stay warm during regular hours of operations. Most locations are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, December 23 and from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 24, 2022.
For more information on extreme cold, visit healthunit.com/extreme-cold
Snow removal
The City of London is actively clearing roadways, bus stops and sidewalks and monitoring conditions closely.
Overnight on-street parking is banned until further notice and registration to park overnight is closed. Please move vehicles off of streets to make sure snowplows can get through as the snow falls.
The City maintains roadways in accordance with Council-approved standards. After the snow fall ends, Londoners can expect all City streets, including adjacent bike lanes, to be cleared within 24 hours, sidewalks to be cleared within 48 hours and bus stops to be cleared within 72 hours after the sidewalks are cleared.
The Thames Valley Parkway and some park pathways throughout the city are cleared to a recreational trail standard after an accumulation of 5 cm of snow, 48 hours after the snow fall ends. Similar to sidewalks, park pathways are left in a snowpack condition. Pedestrians and cyclists using these paths should check the weather forecast before using them to anticipate potential snowfall and changes in path conditions.
Power outages
Damaging winds, flash freezing and heavy snowfall could cause power outages across the city. Visit londonhydro.com and sign up for outage notifications to receive estimated restoration times and updates delivered by text, email, or phone.
If you see a potential electrical danger, such as tree branches on powerlines or downed powerlines, please contact London Hydro’s emergency line as soon as possible for their team to respond at 519-661-5555.
If you notice a traffic or pedestrian signal not working, please report it by calling 519-661-2641.
If you have to travel and a traffic signal is out, remember to treat intersections like a four-way stop.
Tree issues and fallen branches
Residents can report a tree issue, such as fallen branches, through our Service London portal.
If you see a tree limb on powerlines or electrical equipment, please call London Hydro at the emergency number 519-661-5555.
Emergency kits
Make preparations to be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours. Store the items in backpacks, duffel bags or luggage so you can easily take the kit with you in case you need to evacuate. Keep it in a cool, dry area of your home. Ensure that every household member knows where the emergency kit is located.
Recreation programming
The City is cancelling all recreation and sport programs for December 23 and 24.
Refunds will be credited to residents’ accounts for paid programs and rentals.
London Transit
London Transit riders may experience service delays as the snow event progressed. Please allow yourself extra time and bundle up if you must travel.
Stay up to date on your route’s arrival by is https://realtime.londontransit.ca/.
Stay informed
Whether you’re looking for snow clearing updates, confirming the status of on-street parking, or checking for updated hours of operation for community centres and recreation programs, visit london.ca/snow for the information you need.
The City of London will continue to post up to date information on the City’s social media accounts.
- Follow the City on Twitter at @CityOfLdnOnt
- Like the City of London, Ontario on Facebook
- Follow the City on Instagram at @CityofLondonOnt
In the event of an emergency, Alert London will provide critical public safety messages. The system is designed to reach you at your preferred point of contact (text or voice). Please provide your name, address, phone number and preferred method of contact (text or email). Sign up for our Alert London Notification System.