Heavy snowfall expected in Kingston area

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Kingston, Odessa, Frontenac Islands, Napanee, Consecon, Picton, and Sandbanks Park, with significant snowfall expected on Sunday night and Monday.

“Significant snowfall with amounts of 25 to 40 cm expected,” Environment Canada said in the advisory. “Locally up to 50 cm of snow is possible in regions that receive the most snow. Peak snowfall rates of 2 to 5 cm per hour are possible Monday morning into Monday afternoon.”

“There remains some uncertainty in the exact track of the storm system which will affect the westward extent of accumulating snowfall,” the national weather service continued. “As well, snowfall amounts are expected to decrease sharply along the western edge of the storm system towards central Ontario and the greater Toronto area.”

This weather statement is coupled with an extreme cold warning also issued by Environment Canada yesterday.

“Avoid travel if possible,” Environment Canada warned. “Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery. There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas.”

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada records, the highest snowfall over a 24 hour period in the Kingston area is between 43 and 46 cm (measurements vary depending on weather station) on Dec. 16, 1974.