With forecasts calling for 25 to 35 cm of snow and wind gusts of up to 90 km/hr, HRM will be enforcing its overnight winter parking ban for several nights starting tonight, Feb. 8.
Snow clearing crews will be out in full force during the storm, and police will be ticketing and towing vehicles obstructing snow removal.
The city is requesting residents to remove any street obstructions such as basketball nets and organic green carts during snow clearing operations. Items hinder proper snow clearing and can result in damage to property and equipment.
HRM waste facilities normally open on Saturdays will be closed tomorrow Feb. 9, and all municipally run recreation programs and services (including skate lessons) scheduled for tomorrow, Feb. 9, are cancelled.
As not all sport programs in HRM facilities are run by HRM (i.e. hockey), people should check by calling their facility before heading out.
HRM will notify residents if there are further cancellations on Sunday.
Metro Transit passengers are advised to be aware of possible service level changes on buses and ferries this weekend due to the impending storm. Metro Transit may need to implement Snow Plan detours on some of its routes to ensure the safety of its passengers and operators. Although unlikely, it is also possible that service suspensions or cancellations may be required in the event of severe winter weather conditions.
The Snow Plan is designed to maintain service levels while minimizing disruptions by rerouting buses in areas consistently known to be troublesome during severe winter weather conditions. View the Snow Plan online at http://www.halifax.ca/metrotransit/ssi/documents/TransitSnowPlan12-13.pdf for a complete list of route detours. While the Snow Plan is in effect, accessible ramps on Accessible Low Floor (ALF) buses will not be deployed at standard ALF bus stops or non-standard ALF bus stops until bus stops have been properly cleared due to safety concerns.
Metro Transit will be tweeting real time service changes during the storm @hfxtransit; if you do not follow Metro Transit on Twitter, view the live feed at www.twitter.com/hfxtransit. Alternatively passengers may contact 311 during the hours of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
For more information on the parking ban and status of snow clearing operations, go to halifax.ca/snow, call 311 or go to @hfxgov on Twitter.
Meanwhile, the province's Emergency Management Office (EMO) is advising Nova Scotians to prepare themselves for the storm.
"EMO is staying in touch with Environment Canada as this storm approaches," said Ross Landry, Emergency Management Minister. "The best advice we can offer, if this storm hits as expected, is to stay home safe and warm."
The amount of snow forecast along with high winds will provide a challenge for snow removal equipment. Some areas of the province may be looking at prolonged cleanup times. Nova Scotians should take precautionary measures in case they are storm stayed.
"We make every effort to keep our roads safe," said Maurice Smith, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "Every piece of our winter maintenance equipment is ready to go and they plow continuously while the snow is coming down."
If road travel is an absolute necessity drivers can check the latest road conditions before departing by calling 511, checking the 511 website at http://511.gov.ns.ca . The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure and Renewal website also offers highway cams at www.gov.ns.ca/tran/cameras
For road clearing and winter driving tips go to http://novascotia.ca/tran/winter/. Weather updates are available from Environment Canada at www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/ .
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Museum of Natural History, and Nova Scotia Archives in Halifax will be closed tomorrow, Feb. 9, because of expected storm conditions.
The museums will reopen for regular hours on Sunday, Feb. 10.
The archives will reopen for regular hours on Monday, Feb. 11.
For information about museum hours of operation and programs go to www.museum.gov.ns.ca/ .
Archival materials and information about hours of operation and programs are available at www.gov.ns.ca/nsarm/ .
