‘A Major Winter Storm Is Expected’

(Source: Environment Canada)

POSTED: 3:24 PM EST Monday 29 February 2016
Winter storm warning in effect for:

• Niagara Falls – Welland – Southern Niagara Region
• St. Catharines – Grimsby – Northern Niagara Region

A major winter storm is expected.

A deepening low pressure system will give heavy snow and blowing snow. The snow will begin Tuesday midday and intensify into the evening with the heaviest amounts of snow falling Tuesday night. Strong northeasterly winds will also give blowing snow especially in exposed areas and along the Lake Ontario shoreline due to gusts of 70 kilometres per hour.

About 2 to 5 centimeters can be expected Tuesday afternoon and then 10 to 20 centimeters during the night. As the wind shifts early Wednesday morning to northerly the snow will end. Regions near Lake Erie may also experience several hours of freezing rain especially Tuesday night. If the freezing rain stays to the south of Niagara then they may see the highest amounts of snow.

Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas.

Winter storm warnings are issued when multiple types of severe winter weather are expected to occur together.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to storm.ontario@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports to #ONStorm.

Potential For ‘Significant Winter Storm’

POSTED: 11:26 AM EST Monday 29 February 2016  Environment Canada
Winter storm watch in effect for:

• Niagara Falls – Welland – Southern Niagara Region
• St. Catharines – Grimsby – Northern Niagara Region

 

More of this, but worse, could be on the way. (File photos)

A snow storm is expected for Southern Ontario Tuesday and Tuesday night.

A low pressure system developing over Texas today will head towards the Lower Great Lakes and is expected to spread an area of snow into Southern Ontario Tuesday and Tuesday night. This low will tap into moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and has the potential to intensify into a significant winter storm.

This type of Winter storm often has a swath of 15 to 30 cm of heavy snow associated with it. The heavier bands of snow will begin in the Windsor to London area Tuesday afternoon and moving towards Toronto in the early evening. Freezing rain and ice pellets may also be a problem near the Niagara region. Exact snowfall amounts and the possibility of ice pellets and freezing rain will depend upon the exact track of this developing storm.

Travellers should be prepared to alter plans accordingly as driving conditions are likely to deteriorate significantly on Tuesday.

The development and track of this storm is being monitored closely. Please refer to updated statements and local forecasts for further details as the event approaches.

Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Poor weather conditions may contribute to transportation delays. There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas. If you must travel, keep others informed of your schedule and destination and carry an emergency kit and mobile phone.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to storm.ontario@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports to #ONStorm.

Snow Storm ‘Is Looking More Likely’

(Source: Environment Canada)

POSTED: 4:50 AM EST Monday 29 February 2016
Winter storm watch in effect for:

• Niagara Falls – Welland – Southern Niagara Region
• St. Catharines – Grimsby – Northern Niagara Region

A snow storm is looking more likely for Southern Ontario Tuesday and Tuesday night.

A low pressure system developing over Texas today will head towards the Lower Great Lakes and is expected to spread an area of snow into Southern Ontario Tuesday and Tuesday night. This low will tap into moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and has the potential to intensify into a significant winter storm.

This type of Winter storm often has a swath of 15 to 30 cm of heavy snow associated with it. Freezing rain and ice pellets may also be a problem as the storm centre gets close to the Lower Great Lakes. Exact snowfall amounts and the possibility of ice pellets and freezing rain will depend upon the exact track of this developing storm.

Travellers should be prepared to alter plans accordingly as driving conditions are likely to deteriorate significantly on Tuesday.

The development and track of this storm is being monitored closely. Please refer to updated statements and local forecasts for further details as the event approaches.

Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Poor weather conditions may contribute to transportation delays. There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to storm.ontario@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports to #ONStorm.

‘Potential Snow Storm’ Tuesday

POSTED: 5:30 PM EST Sunday 28 February 2016   Environment Canada
Special weather statement in effect for:

• Niagara Falls – Welland – Southern Niagara Region
• St. Catharines – Grimsby – Northern Niagara Region

Potential snow storm for Southern Ontario Tuesday and Tuesday night.

A low pressure system developing over the southern United States Monday will head towards the Lower Great Lakes and is expected to spread an area of snow into Southern Ontario Tuesday and Tuesday night.

Significant snowfall amounts may be possible across portions of Southwestern Ontario, the Golden Horseshoe and Eastern Ontario. Travelling conditions could rapidly deteriorate.

The development and track of this storm is being monitored closely. Please refer to updated statements and local forecasts for further details as the event approaches.

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to storm.ontario@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports to #ONStorm.

Hoops Postscript: Captions You’ll Never See In Print

Do not ask for whom the ball falls – it falls for you! (Photos by Joe Barkovich)

Hmmmm. What did you say Plan B is, Frank?

What goes up, must come down……..

I’ll never volunteer to run the gauntlet again!

“We want it…” “No, you can’t have it…” “Too bad, we want it…”

Time out! Time out! Is anyone paying attention?

What, how could you lose your whistle??

Foot ball action

Third and four….a running play

The End

Irish Lose, Lions To Prowl In Windsor

Notre Dame’s Braidon Moore finds a lane and drives to the basket in the AAA senior boys SOSSA championship game Friday night against Hamilton’s Sir Allan MacNab Lions. The Lions won 59-44 and advance to the Ontario championship March 7-10 in Windsor. (Photos by Joe Barkovich)

Notre Dame head coach Mike Rao drives home a point during a time out early in the opening quarter.

Kyle Cooper (44) goes up and scores two for the Fightin’ Irish Friday night in Dillon Hall.

A Lions defender strips the ball from ND’s Braidon Moore in their AAA senior boys SOSSA championship game at Notre Dame’s Dillon Hall.

THE WEEK AHEAD: Meetings In Welland

Tuesday Mar.1 ’16	5:40 PM – Council Meeting in Committee-of-the-Whole In-camera (Closed to the Public), in the Council Ante Room, to discuss the following: Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees. – Committee Appointments for the following Committees: – Welland Arenas Advisory Committee. – Senior Citizens Advisory Committee. – Welland Recreational Canal Corporation Proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board. – Purchase of City-owned lands. Litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality or local board. – Addendum to Development Charges Study. Receiving of advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose. – Assessment Appeals update.
Tuesday Mar.1 ’16	7:00 PM – Council Meeting, in Open Session, in the Council Chambers.
Wednesday Mar.2 ’16	4:30 PM – Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council Meeting – LOCATION: Welland Community Wellness Complex, 145 Lincoln Street.
Wednesday Mar.2 ’16	5:00 PM – Heritage Welland Committee Meeting – Civic Square, room location to be determined.

 

	City of Welland Jobs
Friday Mar.4 ’16	4:00 PM – Part Time Customer Service Clerk – WCWC Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply no later than 4:00 pm, Friday March 4. 2016

City To Host Roundtable With Ag Minister, Area Mayors, Youth Committee Reps

(Source: City of Welland media release)

Mayor Campion (File Photo)

WELLAND – On Monday, February 29, the City of Welland will host a roundtable discussion with Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Jeff Leal with Mayor Frank Campion and regional mayors along with members of their youth committees.

In June of this year, Ontario will host its second Rural Summit, focusing on the theme of retaining and attracting youth in rural communities. Rural, urban and newcomer youth will have the opportunity to engage with a variety of organizations, municipalities, and employers to discuss how Ontario can foster the next generation of vibrant and youth-friendly rural municipalities.

In the months leading up to the summit, Minister Leal will be meeting with local officials and youth leaders from rural communities across the province to gather ideas and feedback on this important subject that will help set the foundation for a successful 2016 Rural Summit.

Minister Leal will discuss topics related to the following questions during the roundtable:

*What conditions help attract youth to a rural community?

*What barriers do youth face remaining in or relocating to rural Ontario communities?

*How can municipalities engage youth in civic leadership roles?

*Does your municipality have a youth strategy and/or job strategy?

*What Government of Ontario programs are helping your community retain and attract youth?

Mayor Campion and members of the Mayor’s Advisory Youth Committee look forward to meeting with Minister Leal and local Mayors and youth from the Niagara Region.

There will be media availability at 3:45 p.m. on February 29 at the Welland Civic Square.

Flu Activity In Niagara Region

The Flu (Influenza) is a highly contagious infection of the nose, throat and lungs caused by the influenza virus. It can be a serious illness for some people.

Niagara Region monitors the spread of flu and flu-like illnesses on an on-going basis. During the months of October to May, activity will be reported.

Only laboratory confirmed cases are reported. Most people infected with influenza do not get laboratory testing and so actual infection numbers are likely much higher.

Weekly Flu Activity (Updated Each Friday)

Week of	Influenza A	Influenza B	Total
Feb 21-27	45	8	53

Totals include lab confirmed cases in the community and cases associated with outbreaks in health care facilities such as hospitals and long-term care facilities.

Total Cases by City/Town

Town/City	Influenza A	Influenza B	Total	Five Year Average
Fort Erie	8	1	9	12
Grimsby	19	3	22	21
Lincoln	14	2	16	19
Niagara Falls	42	1	43	29
Niagara-on-the-Lake	4	1	5	19
Pelham	6	1	7	5
Port Colborne	3	3	6	11
St. Catharines	57	2	59	62
Thorold	8	2	10	10
Wainfleet	1	1	2	2
Welland	15	3	18	27
West Lincoln	16	0	16	13
Total	193	20	213	230

 

Institutional Outbreaks (Updated Each Friday)

Week of	Influenza A	Influenza B
Feb 21-27	0	1

Irish, Lions Meet In SOSSA Championship

Notre Dame’s Lee Croft goes up for two against Grimsby’s Blessed Trinity Thunder in one of two senior boys AAA SOSSA semi-finals played Thursday evening at Notre Dame’s Dillon Hall. The Irish won 68-31 and will play Hamilton’s Sir Allan MacNab Lions Friday. Game time at Dillon Hall is 6:30 p.m. (Photos by Joe Barkovich)

Alex Simeunovic (23) of A.N. Myer Marauders had this shot blocked by a Sir Allan MacNab Lions defender Thursday night at Dillon Hall. The MacNab Lions won 58-47 and will play Notre Dame Friday for the SOSSA championship.