Frozen slush making walking, driving dangerous

(Updated) If you haven’t been outside, stay in. Thick ice is coating roads and sidewalks, and both walking and driving are dangerous.

Morning traffic was snarled as people tried to make their way back to work after the holidays. And it was a treacherous first day back for students — even those living within walking distance.

“This is pure ice you’re walking on.”
“I know, I know… It’s really slippery.”
“You’ve got running shoes, you’ve got dress shoes, is that enough?”
“No, no grip at all. I’m just walking carefully… it’s not safe at all. ”

“At the crosswalk up, I kind of slipped. If the car hadn’t stopped, I would have been bumped a little bit.”

“It’s not too bad, it’s crunchy and I feel stable, like I’m not going to fall over, but it’s not exactly fun. I walk in other people’s footsteps and make sure you don’t slide on what looks like slush, but is actually ice. It’s deadly.”

And if you didn’t shovel before the snow melted, then froze again: “My back is killing me. I shoveled the most snow I ever shoveled last night. I waited until it rained, I was picking up ice, it was unreal.”

“It’s not heavy just frozen solid so it’s not moving. Just chipping away.”

Another group of workers that need your help are those who take care of waste and recycling. In some areas of Hamilton collection has been delayed, especially in the Carlisle area. All the recycling is expected to be picked up by today, but there may be another delay because of road and weather conditions.

The city is asking people to hold on to their recycling until next week if possible.

A cold alert has been issued for the city of Hamilton and an extreme cold weather alert is in effect for the Niagara region.

Cold alerts are issued when temperatures drop below minus 15 degrees. Temperatures are expected to feel more like minus 30 this evening, and minus 38 degrees overnight. The alert will remain in effects until temperatures rise.

The Salvation Army Booth Centre will be open for those in need of shelter. Public health units recommend people limit the amount of time they spend outside.

An extreme cold alert has been issued for Halton beginning this evening.