Extreme cold warning, school closures in Hamilton as city cleans up major snowfall

An extreme cold warning is in effect for Hamilton as the city continues to dig out after a dump of snow that closed area schools. left roads in poor condition and caused transit delays.

The cold weather warning from Environment Canada states a "frigid air mass and strong winds" will lead to wind chill values of –30 to –35 Tuesday through Friday morning.

Winds are expected to gust up to 70 km/h and the overnight temperature could drop as low as –25 C. The weather agency warns frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin and extreme cold is dangerous for pets.

Potentially record-setting snowfall

The frigid temperatures follow a potentially record-setting snowfall that dropped about 15 cm on downtown Hamilton Monday. That would be enough to bet the previous high mark of 11.6 cm for Jan. 28, set in 2009.

Another 11 cm fell on the city overnight and into Tuesday morning, which could also break the Jan. 29 record of 9.7 cm set in 1971, according to Rob Kuhn, severe weather meteorologist with Environment Canada.

That heavy snowfall can be attributed to an Alberta Clipper that rolled over Lake Ontario, he added.

"It was so cold, so it got really enhanced," Kuhn explained. "Those areas in the Golden Horseshoe that got the lake-effect snow band, in combination with the Alberta Clipper system snow, those are the ones that got the larger amounts."

Snow day for area schools

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board both said that buses are cancelled, buildings are closed and exams have been rescheduled.

The city is urging people to be cautious on the roads and give crews space as they work to clear out the snow.

Contract plows were called in to help clear residential roads, as well as school, city-owned sidewalks and bus stops, the city said in a tweet.

Both the city and GO Transit were warning of possible service delays and urging travellers to check for status updates online.

The HSR is detouring the 41 and 41A (Mohawk) routes between West 5th Street and Southlea Drive because of a downed hydro pole police say was struck by a grader around 2 a.m. after it slid off the roadway, tearing down several live hydro wires.

• GO Transit service updates
• HSR service updates 

Hamilton isn't the only school board with closures and bus cancellations — all Halton District School Board and Halton Catholic District School Board schools are closed.

Universities and colleges open again

After closing early Monday evening post-secondary institutions in the area are open once again.

McMaster University, Mohawk College and Brock University all said classes are running as schedules.

Recreation centres and arenas still open

All City of Hamilton recreation centres, arenas and museums are open today, but due to the school closures drop-in gym programs are cancelled at Riverdale, Laurier, Churchill, Norman Pinky Lewis, Ryerson, Dalewood, MacNab and Hill Park rec centres.

Taxi service at the Red Hill Family Centre has also been cancelled, though the centre still opened at 7:30 a.m.

Click here for a more information on Hamilton's storm response and a complete list of closures.

What's coming next?

Environment Canada has forecast flurries and blowing snow for Hamilton Tuesday with the wind from the southwest at 40 km/h, gusting to 60.

The temperature is expected to fall to –11 C this afternoon with a wind chill of –23.

Tonight the city will see a 30 per cent chance of flurries with more blowing snow and a low of –19 C. The windchill will make it feel like –29 overnight and the weather agency warns there's a risk of frostbite.

Wednesday will bring a mix of sun and cloud, along with a 60 per cent chance of flurries in the afternoon. The high will be –16 C with the windchill making it feel more like –31.