Significant Weather Event Declared – January 15, 2026

For Immediate Release
Thursday, January 15, 2026 - Port Hope, ON

The Municipality of Port Hope has declared a Significant Weather Event due to heavy snowfall and blowing winds, as defined within the Minimum Maintenance Standards Regulation Ont 239/02. Conditions are expected to continue throughout the day.

Environment Canada and local authorities are advising all to avoid any non-essential travel until conditions improve. During the Significant Weather Event, motorists, pedestrians, and residents are advised to use extra caution as the Municipality may not be able to meet its maintenance standards for roads and sidewalks due to the conditions.

Municipal crews will be actively engaged in the following efforts:

• Ongoing monitoring of weather systems and road conditions
• Plowing / clearing snow from roadways and sidewalks and applying road treatments such as salt and sand/salt mixtures

The declaration will not change how or when the Municipality performs its winter maintenance operations. However, it may take staff longer than usual to bring the roads and sidewalks back to a state of safe passage. Public safety is the Municipality’s top priority and operations staff will be working in difficult conditions to keep our roads and sidewalks safe.

This Significant Weather Event will remain in effect until conditions improve enough to safely resume standard roadway maintenance operations. An official notice will be issued once the event has ended.

All motorists and road users are urged to use extra caution and adjust driving behaviour to suit current road conditions.