The County of Lambton has declared a significant weather event after blowing snow led to whiteout conditions across parts of the county Friday night.
The county has also activated its Emergency Operations Centre.
A significant weather event is declared when it is anticipated that approaching or current weather hazards have the potential to pose significant danger to road users within the county.
“Public safety is our top priority,” said Deputy Warden Jeff Agar in a news release. “We are asking residents to take this situation seriously, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow all road closures and safety advisories. These measures help protect both the public and the emergency responders working in challenging conditions.”
Highway 402 in both directions and additional roads across Lambton County were closed, but in an update provided by the OPP at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, those roads had re-opened.
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Extreme caution is to be exercised when travelling on open County of Lambton roads, and that it may take longer than usual to clear open roads and bring them back to normal conditions.
On Saturday morning, Campbell said OPP were dealing with over 150 calls for service in Lambton County regarding stranded motorists and vehicles.
Lambton OPP said if you are currently stuck on the road you're advised to stay in your vehicle, ensure your exhaust pipe is clear of snow and ice to prevent carbon monoxide buildup, run your engine periodically for warmth, not continuously, and turn off unnecessary electronics to conserve the battery.
Turn on hazard lights when running your engine, and if it's safe to do so, tie a bright coloured cloth to your antenna or door handle. You're advised to monitor OPP social media channels, 511 Ontario, and local radio for accurate, up-to-date information.
Call 911 only for emergencies, such as medical distress or if you are out of fuel.
Motorists are also being reminded to avoid parking on the road while snow clearing operations are carried out.
Plympton-Wyoming and Warwick Township have also declared a significant weather events, advising residents that snow clearing operations may take longer than usual.
Lambton Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is experiencing prolonged response delays in the Plympton-Wyoming and Lambton Shores areas.
Residents are asked to call 911 only for life-threatening emergencies at this time.. Lambton EMS will resume normal service levels as soon as conditions safely allow.
