Kingston is one of many southern Ontario communities that has been barraged by winter weather on Monday.
The City of Kingston sent out a notice declaring a significant weather event on Sunday evening following a weather alert from Environment Canada.
The notice advised residents to use extra caution when driving or walking and to remind that it may be difficult to meet winter maintenance service levels for roads and sidewalks.
The city has experienced steady snowfall throughout the day expecting to see upwards of 25 to 40 centimetres total, and driving has been difficult on many roads as snow plows try to keep up.
Thanks to the storm, today’s already delayed return to in person learning for elementary and secondary students will be pushed back at least a day, as Limestone District School Board made the decision to close all schools this morning.
Schools from the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, Upper Canada District School Board, Toronto District School Board and Ottawa-Carleton District School Board also made the decision to cancel buses and in-person learning.
The limited amount of in person activities at St. Lawrence College and Queen’s University expected to take place today were also put on hold.
A number of businesses throughout the city announced on social media last night that they would be closed for the day with significant weather anticipated, and more followed suit today.
City services also took a hit due to the storm, with all but express routes and route 10 cancelled by Kingston Transit as of 10 am, Kingston Frontenac Public Library closing for the day, and several vaccine clinics throughout Kingston and the surrounding area forced to close for the day.
A “red delivery service alert” from Canada Post also cancelled all mail delivery today, citing employee safety.
Ontario Provincial Police have been updating highway closures throughout the day, closing Highway 7 between Highway 41 at Kaladar and Perth and reporting a fatal collision near Arnprior earlier today.
The winter storm conditions are expected to run their course by Monday evening, with colder but less snowy weather expected on Tuesday.
