Severe Winter Weather Smashes Into Region

Collingwood has been blasted with another round of severe winter weather. A massive storm system combined with lake-effect snow has dumped another 20 to 30 centimetres of fresh snow on the region. High winds caused severe drifting and whiteout conditions along the southern Georgian Bay shoreline throughout Monday, December 13th and Tuesday, December 14th.

All school buses were cancelled in the west Simcoe Weather Zone on Monday, December 13th and again on Tuesday, December 14th. While there was no bus service to schools in Wasaga Beach, Collingwood, Stayner, Nottawa, Creemore and Duntroon, the schools remained open for those students who could get there on their own on Monday, but some schools were closed on Tuesday due to the severe weather. Georgian College in Collingwood, Owen Sound and Wasaga Beach closed for the day. The Town of Collingwood closed its municipal offices at noon on Monday, sending town employees home for the rest of the day. The regular town council meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday, December 13th, was also cancelled. Municipal offices remained closed on Tuesday. Mountain Road was closed for a portion of Monday due to a traffic accident. Visibility on area roads was poor to nil at times because of the strong winds and blowing snow that caused extreme whiteout conditions. Highway 26 between Meaford and Owen Sound was closed, as was a portion of highway 26 near Stayner because of weather conditions.

The severe winter weather continued on Tuesday, December 14th, forcing the closure of area highways including a portion of highway 26 east of Stayner to Horseshoe Valley Road, and west of Meaford to Owen Sound. A portion of County Road 124 was shut down due to high winds and zero visibility, as was a portion of Grey Road 4.

The Collingwood region is received in excess of 120 cm of snow in one week. The ongoing snowfall has kept town crews busy clearing the roads and sidewalks, not to mention adding greatly to the town's 2010 snow removal expenses. Downtown Collingwood has already had two total snow removal exercises, and the snow is piled up again.

If you're looking for a positive note, the ski and snow boarding season has opened with its best conditions in recent memory. When the weather improves, local businesses are hoping to benefit from the blast of early winter with increased sales thanks to the early launch of the winter tourism season. However, the severe weather forced Blue Mountain to close for the day on Tuesday, December 14th.