Blizzard Warning

(Dec. 22, 2022 - 2:46 p.m.) - Out of an abundance of caution, the City’s administration buildings will be closed Friday, Dec. 23, 2022 due to the upcoming severe winter weather. City staff will still be on duty and available to assist via email. For the staff contact list, visit our Staff Directory webpage. 

The City’s planned holiday closure will then commence on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, at 4:30 p.m., with City administration buildings closed until Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023 at 8:30 a.m. For more information, visit our Holiday Hours news update.

Port Colborne residents can still manage their property taxes, water, and wastewater bills online with Virtual City Hall.

(Dec. 22, 2022 - 10:46 a.m.) - Environment Canada has now issued a Blizzard Warning. Precipitation will begin as rain this afternoon. Temperatures are expected to plummet on Friday morning leading to a potential flash freeze. Rapidly falling temperatures will be accompanied by strong to damaging winds of 100 to 120 km/h along with snow heavy at times amounts of 15 to 30 cm. Blizzard conditions will develop Friday, especially as lake effect snow off Lake Erie intensifies. Lake effect snow will result in variability of snowfall amounts through the weekend.

To prepare for the upcoming weather city staff will be focusing on the following primary issues:
• Protecting assets from high lake levels
• Protecting property from flooding
• Maintaining access to the road network due to significant amounts of snow
• Closing roads as required due to downed trees or loss of power
Staff are monitoring the weather and will be patrolling roads. Trucks will be dispatched to treat roads with salt and/or sand accordingly followed by plowing of primary roads once the snow has arrived.
 - DSBN and Niagara Catholic District School Board have announced that schools will be closed Friday, Dec. 23 due to the upcoming storm.
- Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority has issues a flood warning. The strong southwest winds will serve to increase water levels and wave action along the Lake Eire shoreline.
𝗔 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀:
Please don’t park where we plow. Parked cars make plowing difficult and sometimes impossible. If you park on the road during a snowfall, you are subject to a fine and your vehicle could be towed at your expense. With your help winter maintenance crews can plow snow faster and reduce the chances of your car being stuck in a snow drift.
𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝘀: Residents that know the location of catch basins in front of their homes are being asked to clear them of any snow to assist with snow melt and prevent water pooling and/or freezing on the roadways.
𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄! A reminder to drive according to changing weather conditions and avoid road closures at this time.
𝗕𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱: Have a home emergency preparedness kit including food and water for 72 hours, refill any prescriptions that may be required ahead of the weather event, keep your cellphones and computers charged and secure loose objects outside.
𝗙𝗿𝗼𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗶𝗽𝗲𝘀: Port Colborne residents are reminded to take steps to prevent frozen pipes as temperatures drop below zero. Visit our webpage for more detail on how to avoid frozen water pipes.
For more information about our winter control operations, visit www.portcolborne.ca/wintercontrol.

Stay safe, Port Colborne!