Muskoka declares significant weather event

Driving conditions on Highway 11 on Sat., Nov. 30, 2024 (CTV News/David Sullivan)

The District Municipality of Muskoka has declared a ‘Significant Weather Event’ in response to the snow that continues to fall in the region.

The declaration was posted via the District’s website on Saturday. It states that a ‘Significant Weather Event’ for all District roads through Muskoka is effective immediately, and that current and forecast weather conditions are impacting road maintenance operations.

Residents are advised to limit all travel on all District roads across Muskoka unless necessary, until further notice.

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“A Significant Weather Event (SWE) is declared when there is an approaching or occurring weather hazard with the potential to pose a significant danger to users of the roadways within a municipality,” said James Steele, the District’s commissioner of engineering and public works, in the declaration. “It is essential that residents stay off the roads, and only travel if necessary until the event is declared over and normal service levels and operations are back in place.”

The declaration applies to all District roads in Muskoka, stating that it allows staff and resources to be called in to support crews in communities that are most impacted. The District adds that ‘Significant Weather Events’ are declared to keep the community safe and warn them of current or impending conditions.

The declaration is expected to continue over the next 24-48 hours as crews continue working to clear snow off the roadways. But the District states that it may take longer to complete all routes while keeping up with the storm.