Hamilton begins to dig out with more snow on the way Thursday
Roads are treacherous and some schools are cancelled Thursday, as Hamilton begins digging out from a snow storm that continues to wallop the region.
OPP are asking drivers to stay home as emergency crews continue to respond to crashes around the region.
Snow, rain, freezing rain and mixed precipitation have created sloppy and slick road conditions, said Sgt. Kerry Schmidt.
We've seen vehicles lose control because they (drivers) panic, they catch a bit of that ice, and they get dragged into that snow," Schmidt said.
The storm played out as forecast, with several centimetres of snow falling overnight. And there's more on the way. After a brief break Thursday morning, up to 15 centimetres is expected throughout the day. Hamilton and all of southern Ontario remains under a snowfall warning.
Environment Canada anticipates the snow will end tonight.
All student transportation is cancelled in Hamilton, and the city's public schools are closed. Hamilton Catholic schools remain open. Likewise in Niagara, schools are open but transportation is cancelled.
See our full list of cancellations and closures.
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SEND US YOUR SNOW DAY PICS: The Spectator is asking readers to share their snow day pictures. Playing with the kids? Cuddling with the pets? Building a snowman? Sipping hot chocolate or shovelling snow? Send your photos to news@thespec.com.
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City crews worked throughout the night and will continue to work through the day to clear roads. For City of Hamilton service emergencies involving roads, water mains, sewers and more, call 905-546-2489. You can also follow the city's #PlowTracker to keep tabs on progress over the last 24 hours.
Snowfall rates up to two centimetres per hour are still possible Thursday.
Niagara OPP report multiple collisions overnight as the storm transitioned from rain to snow and warned in a tweet for drivers to slow down.
The City of Burlington has declared a snow event on Wednesday, which means all on-street parking has been temporarily suspended to keep routes clear for snow removal. For updates, check burlington.ca/snow.
GO Transit is cautioning commuters to give themselves extra time to travel and to use caution in parking lots and on stairs and platforms.
The weather service warns that visibility may be reduced at times due to the heavy snow and local blowing snow, particularly over open areas.
Motorists are advised to exercise caution.
More to come.
Jennifer Moore is an editorial assistant at The Spectator. jmoore@thespec.com