Snow squalls cause closure of Highway 21, Kincardine, for 11th day this year

Heavy snow and high wind have caused the closure of Highway 21 in the Kincardine area for the 11th day this year.

Monday (Feb. 17), at 1:40 a.m., the South Bruce OPP reported Highway 21 was closed, from Amberley to Kincardine, due to blowing and drifting snow and poor-to-nil visibility.

Three hours later, the highway was closed from Port Elgin all the way south to Grand Bend.

By 7 a.m., police reported that Bruce County Road 23 was closed from Lorne Beach Road to Bruce County Road 20. And by the afternoon, most of the county roads were closed.

In fact, by 3:45 p.m., all county roads and Kincardine rural roads were considered closed, and plows were being pulled, due to the deteriorating weather and road conditions.

Meanwhile, in the Municipality of Kincardine, several facilities were already closed because of the Family Day holiday, including the municipal administrative centre, Tiverton Sports Centre, Kincardine fire hall, Underwood office and community centre, Kincardine Waste Management Centre, and the Welcome Centre.

The Davidson Centre was closed at 4 p.m., and Family Day activities were rescheduled, including public skating, family swim and drop-in gym. The pool at the Davidson Centre was closed due to mechanical issues.

The Huron-Bruce All-Candidates meeting, hosted by the CFUW, was switching to on-line only.

As for warming centres, the municipality states that these are meant to provide space for the public to get temporary, short-term relief from the cold, which is why these are usually operated during regular business hours. The local warming centres include the Kincardine and Tiverton Libraries, and the Davidson Centre, all during operating hours.

For a complete list of warming centres throughout the region, visit www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca/Your-Environment/Healthy-Environments/Extreme-Weather.



Blowing snow along Highway 21, just north of Kincardine Home Hardware, looking south, Saturday afternoon



Blowing and drifting snow on Highway 21, Kincardine, Saturday afternoon



Blowing snow along Highway 21, north of Kincardine Home Hardware, Saturday afternoon, looking north



High snow banks on the south side of Highway 9, east of Highway 21, Saturday afternoon