STORM CENTRE >>> JANUARY 14 and 15, 2022

TOWN OF BRIDGEWATER SERVICE UPDATES/CHANGES WILL BE POSTED HERE AS THEY ARE RECEIVED.

JANUARY 16, 2022 >>> REMO has advised the a warming/comfort centre will be set up at the LCLC on Sunday, January 16, 2022, for local residents who need a place to warm up and charge their devices.

BRIDGEWATER TRANSIT >>> UPDATE Bridgewater Transit service is CANCELLED for Saturday, January 15, 2022.

TRAFFIC LIGHTS @ KING & VICTORIA >>> The traffic lights at King & Victoria are currently displaying red/amber only. Please treat this as a four-way stop until repairs can be completed and proceed with caution at this intersection.

MUSEUM CLOSED >>> DesBrisay Museum will be closed today as a result of the storm.

WASTE SITE NOTICE >>> The Community Recycling Centre will be closed Saturday, January 15, 2022, due to the storm. The site will reopen at 8 a.m. Monday, January 17. For more information, visit www.communityrecycling.ca.

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FOR LUNENBURG COUNTY >>> Significant snow, blowing snow, freezing precipitation and wind is expected. Total snowfall: 15 to 50 cm, except 5 to 10 cm along the Atlantic coast. Maximum wind gusts: 90 km/h. Locations: most of mainland Nova Scotia. Time span: tonight and persisting into Saturday.

Environment Canada remarks: Periods of rain this afternoon will transition through freezing rain and ice pellets to snow at times heavy tonight. The changeover is expected this evening over the Annapolis Valley and northern Nova Scotia, and overnight for the remainder of the affected area. The highest snowfall amounts will be over the Annapolis Valley and northern Nova Scotia, with lesser amounts expected along the Atlantic coast.

Strong northerly winds in conjunction with the fresh snowfall will result in poor visibility in blowing snow and may cause utility outages and road closures. Temperatures will drop significantly by Saturday morning in strong northerly winds causing significant wind chill values. Conditions will slowly improve from west to east on Saturday.

Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve. Utility outages may occur. Poor weather conditions may contribute to transportation delays.

Winter storm warnings are issued when multiple types of severe winter weather are expected to occur together. Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or tweet reports using #NSStorm.

WINTER PARKING ALERT >>> During and after a storm, under Section 139 of the Motor Vehicle Act there is no parking permitted on streets. Parking a vehicle on the street will obstruct necessary winter maintenance and is a safety hazard. If you leave your vehicle parked on the street during a storm, it could be ticketed and towed at your expense -- please ensure you find off-street parking for your vehicle during and after a storm as clean-up operations take place.

SNOW-CLEARING REMINDERS >>> Do not move or plow snow from your property on to a street or sidewalk. Not only is that not helpful to drivers and pedestrians alike, it's actually a violation of Section 318 of the Municipal Government Act. Under the rules in that section, no person shall deposit snow or ice on the travelled way of a street or near a portion of the travelled way that hinders clearing efforts. That regulation extends to citizens and private contractors who have been hired to conduct snow-related property maintenance.

If you're putting out your compost cart or waste bags for pick up, please ensure that those items are not placed on the sidewalk or in a manner that could impede snow clearing or pedestrian traffic.

SNOW CLEARING ORDER OF OPERATIONS >>>
-- There are about 70 kms of streets and 35 kms of sidewalks in Bridgewater, so cleaning up after a storm takes time. Be patient and, if possible, please stay off the roads until snow clearing has taken place. This makes it easier for plow operators and lessens the potential burden on emergency responders.
-- Roads are generally salted before a storm to deter the formation of a layer of ice on asphalt below snow cover.
-- Plowing typically begins when there is about 7 to 10 cm of snow down, with priority being given to primary routes within the first 12 hours after a storm. Supervisors are in communication with emergency officials during a storm to coordinate response to emergency calls as needed.
-- From 12 to 24 hours after a storm, focus areas generally include school zones, the downtown, secondary streets, then sidewalk maintenance.
-- Plow It Forward: if you can help out a neighbour or volunteer to clear a fire hydrant, it helps your community!
-- PLEASE NOTE: THESE SERVICE LEVELS ARE BASED ON A TYPICAL WINTER SNOWFALL OF ABOUT 20CM. FOR LARGER WINTER STORMS, OR STORMS WHERE FREEZING RAIN/ICE ARE MIXED IN, ADDITIONAL POST-STORM CLEAN UP TIME WILL BE REQUIRED. PLEASE BE PATIENT, SAFE, AND ONLY MAKE ESSENTIAL TRIPS OUT WHILE STORM-CLEARING OPERATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE.