London schools closed, city initiates extreme temperature protocol due to storm
With a winter storm slated to batter the London, Ont. region on Friday and into the holiday weekend, local agencies are shedding light on how the storm will impact operations and are offering advice on how Londoners can stay safe.
Schools across region to close Friday
The holidays will start one day earlier for London students because of the extreme weather conditions expected for the region.
The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) and London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB) will close schools Friday, advising kids and staff to stay home.
In the Midwest, the Bluewater District School Board and Avon Maitland District School Board are also closing schools as a precaution as well.
On-site childcare centres, before/after school programs, and remote learning will be shut down, according to a TVDSB statement.
“This decision was made early,” reads a statement from the LDCSB, “in order to give families time to prepare, and most importantly, in the best interest of everyone’s safety.”
City initiates extreme temperature protocol
The city is opening up spaces for people to warm up Friday, as part of its extreme temperature protocol.
At times, it is expected to feel like -25 C with the wind chill. Therefore, the city is opening warming centres at multiple arenas Friday, plus public library branches Friday and Saturday.
- Stronach Arena (1221 Sanford Street) from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Medway Arena (119 Sherwood Forest Square) 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Earl Nichols Arena (799 Homeview Road) 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Public library branches will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, as well as 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
“Avoid travel if you can’: Paramedics
The extreme conditions are expected to make driving treacherous in some places over the next two days.
“See snow, go slow,” explained Miranda Bothwell with Middlesex London Paramedic Services.
“If you can avoid travelling, definitely avoid that,” she said. “If you’re driving, if you’re out walking, if you’re shovelling, whenever snow is involved, slow everything down.”
The forecast includes heavy blowing snow, strong winds and possible snow squalls, which can make driving dangerous, according to Environment Canada. At times, visibility may be reduced to zero.
“Arrive early and plan extra travel time”: London International Airport
With the busiest travel period of the year upon us, London International Airport said on Twitter that the airport is “fully staffed and prepared for the impending weather.”
The airport advises that travellers confirm their flight status directly with their airline for the most accurate information and updates.
“Please arrive early and plan extra travel time," they wrote on Twitter.
London Transit Commission
In a tweet, the London Transit Commission (LTC) warned riders that service delays might be a possibility with the storm, and ask riders to allow for extra travel time and dress warmly if they must travel.
People can stay up to date with their route’s arrival by visiting the LTC website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW 'She was waiting for you': The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother in England
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army on Monday ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah to start evacuating from the area, signalling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
'Love has no boundaries': Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Ontario family releases statement on infant son, grandparents killed in wrong-way Highway 401 crash
An Ontario family says they are 'reeling' in 'profound grief' after losing their three-month-old son and parents visiting from India in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last Monday.