Snow Squalls Strike Kingston-Belleville, Forcing 401 Highway Closures

In a sudden winter storm, snow squalls have hit the Kingston and Belleville region, causing significant disruptions on Highway 401. The adverse weather contributed to numerous accidents, prompting highway closures across the area.

Snow Squalls Affect Highway 401

On Tuesday morning, Environment Canada issued snow squall warnings extending from Kingston to Trenton. These warnings remained in effect until the early afternoon, affecting travel conditions. By noon, the warnings for Belleville and Trenton were lifted, while the alert for Napanee ended around 1:30 p.m.

Due to the hazardous conditions, sections of Highway 401 were closed in both directions. This included the stretch between Wallbridge Loyalist Road in Belleville and Glen Miller Road in Trenton. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reported that approximately 50 vehicles were involved in collisions along this route.

Motorists have been advised to utilize official detour routes. For those stranded, the Duncan McDonald Memorial Community Gardens arena on Couch Crescent in Trenton is providing warmth and shelter. Buses are also assisting in transporting individuals from the highway incidents to the arena.

Road Conditions and Weather Forecast

No serious injuries have been reported despite the extent of the accidents. The eastbound closure on Highway 401 extends from Northumberland’s County Road 30 to Brighton. Additionally, the westbound lanes were affected by crashes at Palace Road in Napanee and at Lennox and Addington Road 4 near Odessa, with closures lasting until around 2:30 p.m.

• Snow Accumulation: Expected between 10 to 20 centimeters in certain areas.
• Wind Gusts: Reaching up to 70 km/h.
• School Buses: Canceled in Prince Edward County due to weather conditions.

The Kingston area has experienced substantial snowfall during January, with this latest storm potentially pushing total snowfall to over 100 centimeters since January 15. Temperatures in Kingston and Ottawa remain below normal, with highs around –10°C and overnight lows near –20°C, not including wind chill factors.

As conditions may continue to fluctuate, residents are reminded to exercise caution when traveling and stay updated through official weather forecasts and highway statuses provided by Filmogaz.com.