Snow events ended in Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Guelph but cleanup efforts continue

Snow events have been ended in Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Guelph in southern Ontario.

They were called after the area saw between 25 and 30 cm of snow more than a week ago during a snowstorm on the long weekend, Feb. 15 to 17. It was made even worse when a dump of snow also hit the region a few days before and closed schools.

This means the city-wide street parking bans have been lifted.

"Although the snow event will be cancelled, overnight parking exemptions will not be allowed until the enhanced snow loading operations currently underway have been completed," the City of Kitchener said in a release Wednesday.

"Keeping the streets clear of vehicles will help us complete snow removal as quickly as possible."

Staff in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo say the significant weather event declared on Feb. 12 will remain in effect. 

Waterloo says that's because crews need "extra time needed to service roads, sidewalks and trails, to reach a point when normal operations can resume."

Waterloo added that while the parking ban has been lifted, parked cars remain a barrier to snow clearing.

"Please keep parked cars off city streets as much as possible to help us continue snow clearing and snow removal as effectively and efficiently as possible," the city said.

On Monday, the City of Guelph declared an end to its significant weather event but overnight parking on the downtown core's streets would not be permitted until Friday morning.

The city said any plowing that still needed to take place could be expected to happen over the next few days. The city added that as bike lanes may be blocked with snow, drivers should remember they need to share the road with cyclists.

The Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation issued a release after the significant weather event was ended, reminding people to be careful and also to report unresolved issues on sidewalks, bike lanes, bus stops and trails, especially for those with "barriers around accessibility ramps or crossings."

Potholes possible

The City of Kitchener also warns potholes may become an issue on streets with warmer days, some melting snow, and temperatures dropping below freezing overnight.

"As we continue to respond to the significant amount of snow that has accumulated this season, we are committing as many resources as possible to snow loading. This means we may not be able to repair potholes as quickly as usual," the City of Kitchener said.

"We will continue to monitor and assess potholes on our streets and prioritize repairs based on the highest need. Even if we can't repair a pothole right away, we record every reported pothole to address as part of our ongoing maintenance program."

The City of Guelph also reminded residents that snow melt may result in flooding of certain low-lying areas.

"Please check the storm drains near your residence and ensure they are clear of debris."