Thunder Bay digs out as wild winter storm blows through

City of Thunder Bay road clearing crews have made two passes down some of the major arteries since the snow starting falling early Fridaymorning.

Environment Canada saidsome locations in the area could receive 35 cm of snow by the time the system blows through. The extra accumulationmakes for slow going for both drivers and pedestrians.

Thunder Bay's roads division manager saidit will take well into next week to finish the sidewalks "due to the volume of snow and the existing snowbanks on the sidewalks."

"We're using the snowblower attachments on the sidewalk plows and it's slow going with that,"Brad Adams said.

"So it's going to takeus four or five, maybe six days, to get everything open, if everything goes well".

Adams said about 50 pieces of snow-clearing equipment have been deployed around the city.He said he expects all residential streets will be plowed by Sunday.

Garbage collection delays

The city reported garbage collection was progressing with some delays. In a press release Friday afternoon, the city said crews were having difficulties with access to residential streets, but were attempting to collect as much as they could.

Residents whodo not receive garbage collection will be able to place six items at the curb on their next collection day. Recycling collection was cancelled for the day and the city said items should be brought back in to be placed out on their next scheduled recycling collection day.

Road and air travel affected

The winter storm that blew into the region forced numerous cancellations across the city and beyond.

At the Thunder Bay International Airport,a number offlight cancellations and delays were logged early in themorning, but the airport website showed relatively minor delays in arrivals and departures later in the day.

The OPP warnedof dangerous conditions on highways with several closures, some related to collisions. Highway 17 was closed just east of Ignacelate Friday morning after a five-vehicle collision involving two tractor-trailer units, a snow plow and two passengers vehicles. No injuries were reported.

Thunder Bay Transit buses managed to continue running, even though there weresome delays.

Environment Canada said the Thunder Bay area received 18-22 cm of snow overnight and through the morning.

Earlier, CBC Meteorologist Jay Scotland had received unofficial figures from the airport showing only9 cm.

But Environment CanadaMeteorologist Geoff Coulson reported some locations mightgetup to 35 cm before the system moves on. Coulson said residentscan expect high snow drifts because of the accompanying wind.

Long-time Thunder Bay-areaweather observer and writer Graham Saunderssaid he had recorded about 28 cm of snow this morning at his rural property.

"I've been thinking this winter is something like 1996,"Graham told CBC News. That year marked the most snow ever recorded in Thunder Bay with about 350 cm over the season.

Latest updates:

• Hwy 17 reopened nearIgnace.
• Hwy 11 reopened fromNipigonto Hearst
• Nor'west Community Health Centre closed at 1 p.m. and no urgent care this afternoon.
• Anishnawbe MushkikiClinic on Royston Court closed.
• District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board closed
• City of Thunder Bay operated Child Care Centres have been closed,including Grace Remus Child Care Centre, Ogden Child Care Centre, Woodcrest Child Care Centre and Algoma Child Care Centre.
• Canada Games Complex, Volunteer and Churchill Pools were closed at 11 a.m.
• The Baggage Building Arts Centre & Skating Rink at Prince Arthurs Landing has been closed.
• Terry Fox Visitor Information Centre has been closed.
• Skating programs at all city arenas have been cancelled.
• Lakehead University Thunderwolves hockey playoff with York University this evening is postponed totomorrow. Game 3, if necessary, will be playedSunday.
• Churchill high school Cabaret 2014, scheduled for this evening, has beenpostponed.
• Classes at Lakehead University (now including the Medical School) and Confederation College are cancelled today, but the buildings are still open.
• Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic closed.
• Footsteps Family Centres are closed.
• Chidren's Centre closed today as well as Kinderplace child centre closed.
• All Thunder Bay schools closed: Lakehead Public, Thunder Bay Catholic, Thunder Bay Christian, as well asCSDC schools and Education Centres
• No school buses for Kenora/Sioux Narrows, Dryden/Vermillion, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake/Ear Falls, Ignace, Upsala. Schools are open.
• Kingfisher Lake Outdoor Education Centre Open House tomorrow cancelled.

Weather warnings:

• Thunder Bay - Superior West winter storm warning in effect.
• Dryden, Ignace, Sioux Lookout, Savant Lake snowfall warning in effect.
• Fort Frances, Rainy Lake snowfall warning in effect.
• Atikokan, Upsala, Quetico snowfall warning in effect.
• Lake Nipigon, Wabakimi winter storm warning in effect.
• Geraldton, Manitouwadge, Hornepayne winter storm warning in effect.
• Nipigon, Marathon, Superior North winter storm warning in effect.
• White River, Dubreuilville winter storm warning in effect, snow squall watch in effect.