Blowing snow, ice pellets bring city to a frozen halt

Classes and various events cancelled with more blowing snow expected to hit Wednesday

A Colorado low winter storm that began Tuesday and continued into Wednesday was expected to dump 20 to 30 centimetres of snow in the Peterborough area.

With wind gusts of up to 41 km/h recorded at the Peterborough Airport on Tuesday afternoon, blowing snow made driving conditions difficult.

School buses in the Peterborough area were cancelled early Tuesday morning, but there was no word by Tuesday night whether they would be running again Wednesday.

Fleming College closed its campuses. Trent University campuses remained open, but evening classes were cancelled.

The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce postponed the Power Hour speaking event that had been scheduled for Tuesday night at the Peterborough Curling Club. It has been rescheduled as a luncheon meeting on March 1.

City of Peterborough waste collection teams continued their work, along with city plowing and sanding crews, but waste collection on Tuesday and Wednesday may take longer than normal, the city advised.

The city urged motorists to not park on streets Tuesday night while city crews worked to clear snow from 965 kilometres of road lanes and 400 kilometres of sidewalks. Parking is banned on all city streets over the winter months between 2 and 6 a.m. The fine for violations is $25.

Peterborough County urged motorists to be patient with snow plows on county roads and not pass plows.

Numerous events were cancelled due to the conditions and many businesses and offices closed up early Tuesday.

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development cancelled Tuesday night’s business planning workshop and rescheduled it to Feb. 26.

The city cancelled Tuesday night’s library board meeting. The meeting will be rescheduled.

The Peterborough Children’s Chorus cancelled Tuesday night’s rehearsals.

All evening rentals at Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board schools were cancelled.

A kindergarten information night at Roger Neilson Public School in Peterborough will be rescheduled.

CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT EXAMINER A pedestrian is bundled up as city plows clear the snow accumulation on Tuesday in downtown Peterborough.

CLIFFORD SKARSTEDT EXAMINER Maintenance supervisor Frits Jansen clears Peterborough Square on Tuesday as a Colorado low storm moved through the area, dumping snow and forcing the cancellation of many events.