Snowstorm strands hundreds on highway near Sarnia, Ont. - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

hugh · 2010-12-14, 09:06 AM

Police in Sarnia, Ont., said drifting snow and zero visibility had trapped about 300 people in some 360 vehicles since Monday on Highway 402 between Sarnia and County Road 22, about 30 kilometres east of the city.

Const. Jones said police on snowmobiles had been going up and down the snow-blocked highway throughout the night checking on people and ferrying some to emergency shelters.

mr weather · 2010-12-14, 09:16 AM

The military is apparently involved now getting ready to do air lifts (once the visibility improves). And yes, cue the Mel Lastman jokes.

The Compass cameras on the 402 east of Sarnia present a pretty eerie picture: the highway is completely snow-covered and there are zero vehicles anywhere.

supergenius · 2010-12-14, 09:16 AM

Yep, 2 days off work so far due to the weather. Its really nuts out there!! I lived in Calgary for five years and never experienced anything like this. The snow drift in my driveway was over 5 ft tall.

Nanuuk · 2010-12-14, 09:32 AM

Wow. I hope everyone is ok.

DdDave · 2010-12-14, 12:51 PM

I was supposed to drive from Toronto to Detroit Monday morning, and we usually cross at Sarnia. As much as I would have liked to have had a couple days off work, I wouldn't want to spend them trapped in a car. Good thing we bailed when we got up and saw the traffic reports starting to come in!

asd · 2010-12-14, 10:01 PM

supergenius, I don't know why you connect 5 years in Calgary to the current weather event near Sarnia Ontario. Calgary is situated in a semi arid steppe environment, with about 17 inches of precipitation annually. Sarnia is in a much more snow prone region.

Here in Annapolis Valley we also had a weather "experience" last night. It is a lot warmer than southern Ontario, at 17 Celsius last night, but we had what some say was wind as bad as hurricane Juan. In my yard, 2 giant pines came down and miraculously nobody was hurt; there was no damage to Chez ASD, either. The power was out of course but heck it's warm so we won't freeze and it's Christmas so I saved on the light bill.

ScaryBob · 2010-12-14, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Calgary is situated in a semi arid steppe environment, with about 17 inches of precipitation annually.

We got more than that in one day last week and it kept on snowing for two more days straight. Then we had some wet snow/rain just before it turned cold to solidify the big pile of slush the city plow left in our driveway overnight. Winter in Ontario is so much fun.

It started snowing here this evening again. It made the roads treacherous but you wouldn't know it by the drivers that were doing 80 on city streets, cutting in an out and tailgating cars doing 50 (the speed limit.) Idiots!

hugh · 2010-12-14, 10:27 PM

Two words for you "snow belt"

ScaryBob · 2010-12-14, 10:50 PM

The heart of the Lake Huron snow belt is north of London. Every few years the winds are shifted a little and London or other areas get dumped upon. There is also some evidence that this may be related to two other words, "El Nina."

2010-12-14, 09:06 AM	#1
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	Snowstorm strands hundreds on highway near Sarnia, Ont. Police in Sarnia, Ont., said drifting snow and zero visibility had trapped about 300 people in some 360 vehicles since Monday on Highway 402 between Sarnia and County Road 22, about 30 kilometres east of the city. Const. Jones said police on snowmobiles had been going up and down the snow-blocked highway throughout the night checking on people and ferrying some to emergency shelters. __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2010-12-14, 12:51 PM	#5
DdDave Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Oak Ridges, On Posts: 403	I was supposed to drive from Toronto to Detroit Monday morning, and we usually cross at Sarnia. As much as I would have liked to have had a couple days off work, I wouldn't want to spend them trapped in a car. Good thing we bailed when we got up and saw the traffic reports starting to come in! Last edited by DdDave; 2010-12-14 at 12:52 PM. Reason: grammar

2010-12-14, 10:27 PM	#8
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	Two words for you "snow belt" __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2010-12-14, 10:50 PM	#9
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	The heart of the Lake Huron snow belt is north of London. Every few years the winds are shifted a little and London or other areas get dumped upon. There is also some evidence that this may be related to two other words, "El Nina." __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

2010-12-14, 09:16 AM	#2
mr weather Veteran Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Posts: 1,950	The military is apparently involved now getting ready to do air lifts (once the visibility improves). And yes, cue the Mel Lastman jokes. The Compass cameras on the 402 east of Sarnia present a pretty eerie picture: the highway is completely snow-covered and there are zero vehicles anywhere.

2010-12-14, 09:16 AM	#3
supergenius Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Calgary Posts: 764	Yep, 2 days off work so far due to the weather. Its really nuts out there!! I lived in Calgary for five years and never experienced anything like this. The snow drift in my driveway was over 5 ft tall.

2010-12-14, 09:32 AM	#4
Nanuuk Veteran Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Calgary, AB Shaw Exo Posts: 4,811	Wow. I hope everyone is ok.

2010-12-14, 10:01 PM	#6
asd Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Annapolis Valley Posts: 368	supergenius, I don't know why you connect 5 years in Calgary to the current weather event near Sarnia Ontario. Calgary is situated in a semi arid steppe environment, with about 17 inches of precipitation annually. Sarnia is in a much more snow prone region. Here in Annapolis Valley we also had a weather "experience" last night. It is a lot warmer than southern Ontario, at 17 Celsius last night, but we had what some say was wind as bad as hurricane Juan. In my yard, 2 giant pines came down and miraculously nobody was hurt; there was no damage to Chez ASD, either. The power was out of course but heck it's warm so we won't freeze and it's Christmas so I saved on the light bill.