‘Crippling blizzard’ expected to hit Niagara region

Environment Canada has issued warnings for most of our area and says a “crippling blizzard” is expected to hit parts of the Niagara region. School closures have already been announced for tomorrow and many people are rethinking their holiday plans.

Fort Erie town officials say they declared a special weather event, meaning road-clearing workers are expected to be out a bit longer and more frequently this weekend. Town officials will throw all of their resources and the people living here are prepping to make alternate plans for Christmas.

Environment Canada says much of the Niagara region can expect blizzard conditions which could potentially cause road closures, flooding, and power outages.

READ MORE: Here’s what schools are closed Friday due to Ontario winter storm

Environment Canada is reporting blizzard conditions could begin to develop sometime Friday which could bring gusty winds of up to 120 kilometres per hour.

Rain is expected overnight then freezing and blowing snow starting Friday. Both Niagara school boards preemptively called off classes tomorrow.

Fort Erie mayor Wayne Redekop says the town will be declaring a “special weather event” this weekend which includes trucks on the road in longer stretches.

At Fort Erie’s public works yard crews are beginning to load their trucks with salt and shifts are underway.

Fort Erie’s road supervisor Nicholas Cheveleire says crews will have more than 400 kilometres of road to cover this weekend, “as far as I can remember, I’ve never seen a blizzard warning here in the region… will do what we can to maintain priority roads.”

Officials in Fort Erie and in Niagara Falls are urging residents to prepare emergency kits of food and water in case, as we could see a storm spanning over three days. Niagara Falls officials say certain city facilities will welcome needing relief from the cold as well.