No transit, schools as London remains buried in snow

UPDATE: Provincial police say there have been more than 500 collisions in the western region of southern Ontario since the snow started falling, and are pleading with motorists to slow down.

"The number of collisions is alarming," said Insp. Mark Wright in a release.

"The simple fact is that people aren't slowing down and others are following too closely. There is no magic to winter driving, you simply have to drive slow."

Police say officers and other emergency workers are being put in danger by speeding motorists "who are under the illusion they can stop quickly on ice."

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LONDON, Ont. - The London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph Health Care have cancelled non-emergency surgery and services as London digs out from a record snowfall.

Schools are closed, college exams are cancelled and there are no transit or school buses today after more than a metre of snow fell on the southwestern Ontario city since the weekend.

It’s more snow than London saw between last December and March.

Most city services are closed, but Canada Post says it will try to deliver the mail — although that could be tricky as many mailboxes are buried in snow.

Forecasters are calling for another 10 to 15 centimetres throughout the day today, before flurries taper off Thursday morning.

As of this morning, the system has moved north of London and is centred on Lucan, which has already received almost 1.5 metres of snow.

London did not see much in the way of new accumulation overnight and the major routes are in much better shape.

City manager Jeff Fielding says surrounding communities had offered help with snow clearing, but those offers dried up when the snow moved into those areas.

“We have sufficient crews and lots of equipment,” he said.

“We'll make a significant dent in the work today.”

Mayor Joe Fontana decided against declaring a state of emergency Tuesday, but said officials would continue to monitor the situation.

Meanwhile, the weather is being blamed for a series of crashes that closed a stretch of Highway 401 from Woodstock to Ingersoll.

Provincial police closed the westbound lanes of the highway after crashes involving up to four cars and seven tractor-trailers near the Woodstock truck stop.

Police say the 401 is very icy, and drivers should try to stay off the highway as snow squalls are causing reduced visibility and treacherous conditions.

- The Canadian Press

Comments

[Dave]

I feel for London but ... frankly ... they can keep it.