Blowing snow wreaks havoc across midwestern Ontario

90km/h winds made for dicey driving in Bruce County on Monday – CTV London’s Scott Miller has tips for safer winter driving.

Vicious winds are blowing snow all over midwestern Ontario today.

As many as ten roads across Bruce and Grey County have been closed as a result of the blowing snow which is causing sizeable drifts on many roadways.

Snowplows along the Bruce Peninsula have been pulled off the roads because they simply can’t keep up with the drifting, and tow trucks have been kept very busy responding to crashes and ditched cars across the region.

Wind speeds reached 90 km/h today, whipping up weeks worth of snow.

While travel across Bruce and Grey County specifically is being discouraged this evening and overnight, the road conditions are prompting police to remind motorists of some winter driving safety tips - which includes letting someone know if you are venturing out.

“If you’re planning on going from A to B, let someone you know, a loved one or a friend, let them know your plan with what your planned route is going to be and then kind of let them know, you know, I expect to be there in about two hours. So, perhaps check in and send them a message and say, hey, I got here, okay? And just that communication piece is really important. That saves us from getting these panicked calls where someone’s overdue or missing, and it turns out they’re fine, but they just didn’t communicate where they went and how long it took them to get there,” said Huron County OPP Constable Craig Soldan.

Wind and weather warnings continue across midwestern Ontario this evening and into Tuesday morning when the winds are expected to diminish - but with the snowbanks so high along many county roadways, it now only takes a bit of wind to whip up hazardous driving conditions. Police advise drivers to have an emergency kit in their vehicle, especially during these winter months.

“Things like snacks and blankets, flashlight - one with working batteries in it... Just the necessities that you might need if you’re stuck somewhere and it’s cold,” said Soldan.