HURON COUNTY – Environment Canada’s snow squall warning for Huron County continues this morning.
Frequent near zero visibility from heavy snow and blowing snow in snowsqualls today into tonight.
At this time, the following schools and buses are reporting:
- All buses to St. Anne’s and St. Joseph’s in Clinton are cancelled and the schools are closed to students. The trip to Sheraton and the Rugby game are also cancelled. Holmesville PS, Huron Christian School, Hullett PS, and Huron Centennial PS are closed;
- No buses are running to Clinton PS and CHSS, but the schools are open for those who can get there safely;
- There are no rural buses running to Seaforth PS and St. James, but in-town buses are running and schools are open for those who can get there safely;
- In Goderich and Area, all rural buses and all specialized transportation vehicles have been cancelled. Colborne PS is open for students that can arrive safely. In-town buses are running Goderich PS, St. Mary’s School and GDCI – 7/8 Program and the schools will remain open for students that can arrive safely. There are no scheduled classes at Goderich District Collegiate Institute but the school is open for study purposes only;
- Rural buses are not running and the following schools are closed: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Boniface in Zurich, Stephen Central PS, and Bluewater Coast Elementary in Hensall;
- In Exeter rural buses and all specialized transportation vehicles have been cancelled. In town routes will be running. Exeter Elementary School, Precious Blood, SHDHS and the 7-8 Campus will remain open for those that can arrive safely; and
- In the North Huron Region, all Montgomery and all specialized transportation vehicles are cancelled. As a result, Brookside PS, Sacred Heart School in Wingham, and Maitland River Elementary School (Turnberry campus and Wingham campus) are closed. FE Madill School is open for study purposes for those who can arrive safely.Weather radar shows that quite a few snow squalls have developed in a stiff and cold westerly flow of fresh Arctic air from Lake Huron.Local snowfall amounts up to 15 cm in 12 hours are expected in regions that receive a snowsquall or two. Strong and gusty westerly winds are also whipping up the freshly fallen snow and causing very low visibility in blowing snow in many areas.Web cams and MTO reports have been showing poor to nil visibility in a number of locales. Hwy. 21 from Southampton to Goderich is closed, Hwy. 4 from London to Clinton, and Hwy. 8 from Stratford to Goderich are all reporting snow covered roads with poor visibility. For up to date information, please check the Ministry of Transportation Ontario website.
Motorists travelling into the area should allow much extra time to reach their destination due to hazardous winter driving conditions. Visibility will often be suddenly reduced to near zero due to blowing snow and bursts of heavy snow as the snowsquall arrives.
Winter has won the latest battle with early spring and has returned with a vengeance. Cold Arctic air flowing over the relatively mild waters of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay will generate lake effect flurries and snowsqualls today and tonight.
Snow squalls are expected to weaken slowly into a few flurries by Thursday morning as winds diminish.
