Declaration of a Significant Weather Event - March 10, 2026

At 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, the Township of Algonquin Highlands has declared a Significant Weather Event. 

Rational:

Environment Canada has issued a Winter Storm Warning with the following weather hazards for our region on March 10, 2026.

Hazards:

· Prolonged period of freezing rain. Possibly up to 24 hours in some areas

· Ice accretion or build up of 10 to 20 mm

Timing:

Beginning tonight, Tuesday, March 10, 2026 or early Wednesday morning, and lasting through Wednesday or Wednesday night.

Additional information:

A series of low pressure systems will lead to significant freezing rain across parts of Southern Ontario. Freezing rain may fall heavily at times. Precipitation may not freeze immediately, which may lead to localized flooding in low-lying areas.

Roads and walkways will likely become icy and slippery. Prolonged utility outages are likely. Significant damage to property, including some buildings and trees, is likely due to the weight of ice.

The Public Works Department has reviewed the alert as of March 10, 2026. Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.

Algonquin Highlands is declaring a Significant Weather Event in accordance with By-Law 2018-118 and Provincial Standards.

A “weather hazard” means the weather hazards determined by Environment Canada as meeting the criteria for the issuance of an alert under its Public Weather Alerting Program. O. Reg. 239/02, s. 1 (1); O. Reg. 23/10, s. 1 (1); O. Reg. 47/13, s. 1; O. Reg. 366/18, s. 1 (1, 2)

A DSW allows the Municipality to let a weather hazard pass without having an impact on the standard time set by the minimum maintenance standards for snow accumulation of roadways/bicycle lanes, icy roadways, snow accumulation on sidewalks, ice formation on sidewalks and icy sidewalks.

Municipal workforces will continue to provide maintenance operations, but for safety considerations, operations may need to be temporarily suspended.

A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) will be issued for the Stanhope Municipal Airport for no winter maintenance being performed during this significant weather event. (Fueling for emergency services will continue) Please visit the Townships website for notifications regarding waste disposal site closures or delays.

All Algonquin Highlands waste disposal services will be closed on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. All Algonquin Highlands community centres, including the Dorset Recreation Centre, will also be closed on Wednesday. Please visit the Townships website for notifications regarding waste disposal site closures or delays.

All Algonquin Highlands buildings and facilities may be impacted by this significant weather event. Please visit the Townships website for notifications regarding closures or delays.

Users of the roads and sidewalks within the Municipality are advised to avoid unnecessary travel and to use caution if doing so. Please remain a safe distance back from maintenance equipment and to drive according to conditions.

Further notice will be provided when the event has ended.