Environment Canada has upgraded its previously issued special weather statement for the Northumberland and Quinte regions and issued a snowfall warning.
Officials are now calling for snowfall amounts of 15 to 25 centimetres, with peak snowfall rates of two-to-four cm per hour.
The winter storm will hit Wednesday evening and continue into Thursday afternoon.
“Snow, at times heavy, will begin this evening – total amounts of up to 25 cm are possible,” reads Environment Canada’s warning.
“The heaviest snow is expected to fall tonight into Thursday morning,” noted officials.
Due to rapidly accumulating snow, travel is anticipated to be difficult.
The Thursday morning commute will also be impacted. What’s more, snow may become mixed with ice pellets early Thursday morning, noted Environment Canada.
Snow is anticipated to gradually taper off Thursday afternoon.
Officials are urging people to avoid non-essential travel and for those on the road to be prepared to adjust driving with changing road conditions.
Meanwhile, Public Safety Canada is encouraging people to make an emergency plan and put together emergency kits with drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kid and a flashlight.
More information on emergency plans and kits is available online.
OPP is also anticipating the storm will result in deteriorating driving conditions Wednesday and Thursday and are echoing the call for people to avoid non-essential travel during the storm. For those who do have to be out, police are urging motorists to make safe choices when behind the wheel and to not try to pass an echelon of snowplows clearing roads.
In Brighton, the municipality says public works crews are closely monitoring the weather and will take appropriate action. Staff are also echoing similar safety messages.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
