Snowstorm closes roads in Kincardine area Friday night

Heavy snow and high wind hit the Kincardine area again Friday, as blowing and drifting snow began causing major havoc in the evening.



High wind blows snow down Durham Market North, looking east from Queen Street, in downtown Kincardine, Friday afternoon

By 7 p.m., the South Bruce OPP had closed Highway 21 from Southampton to Kincardine, due to poor road and weather conditions and zero visibility. An hour later, Highway 9 from Kincardine to Walkerton was also closed, as was Bruce County Road 23 (the B-line), from Lorne Beach Road to Bruce County Road 15.

By 10:15 p.m., police had also closed Bruce County Road 86 from Amberley (Highway 21) to Lucknow. And Highway 21 was closed all the way from Southampton to Grand Bend due to blowing and drifting snow.

Drivers should be aware that Lucknow, Paisley, and Walkerton patrols have ceased operations due to nil visibility.

Environment Canada has issued a snow squall warning for the area all weekend, as well as an extreme cold warning.

A period of very cold wind chills is expected, with a high of minus-16 degrees Celsius on Saturday. A cold front will pass through the region Friday night and very cold temperatures will follow in its wake, along with gusty northwest winds.

Very cold wind-chill values, between about minus-30 degrees Celsius and minus-35 degrees Celsius, are expected overnight Friday, and Saturday morning. Wind-chill conditions will improve only marginally Saturday afternoon, then fall below minus-30 degrees Celsius again Saturday night. Some improvement is expected Sunday.



A snowstorm hits downtown Kincardine Friday afternoon



Heavy snow and high wind in downtown Kincardine, looking north from the corner of Queen Street and Durham Market North, Friday afternoon