The day in (recent) weather history when Ottawa broke its one-day snow record
This Day In Weather History is a daily podcast by Chris Mei from The Weather Network, featuring stories about people, communities and events and how weather impacted them.
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On Feb. 16, 1954, Ottawa, Ontario received 39.6 cm of snow, making it the snowiest day in the city's history. Exactly 62 years later, to the day, that record was broken as Canada's capital received a generous 51.2 cm of snow.
On Thursday, Feb. 16, 2006, Ottawa awoke to a snowstorm. Though some school boards, government agencies, and other places of employment closed for the day, some institutions remained open. Whoever ended up braving the winter storm, found out if things were in operation, they were slow.
Nos policiers patrouillent et interviennent partout à #Gatineau, même en motoneige! #tempête #neige #snowday pic.twitter.com/t6y4wjDN7X
Nos policiers patrouillent et interviennent partout à PoliceGatineau on Twitter: "Nos policiers patrouillent et interviennent partout à #Gatineau, même en motoneige! #tempête #neige #snowday pic.twitter.com/t6y4wjDN7X / Twitter", même en motoneige! PoliceGatineau on Twitter: "Nos policiers patrouillent et interviennent partout à #Gatineau, même en motoneige! #tempête #neige #snowday pic.twitter.com/t6y4wjDN7X / Twitter" PoliceGatineau on Twitter: "Nos policiers patrouillent et interviennent partout à #Gatineau, même en motoneige! #tempête #neige #snowday pic.twitter.com/t6y4wjDN7X / Twitter" PoliceGatineau on Twitter: "Nos policiers patrouillent et interviennent partout à #Gatineau, même en motoneige! #tempête #neige #snowday pic.twitter.com/t6y4wjDN7X / Twitter" PoliceGatineau on Twitter: "Nos policiers patrouillent et interviennent partout à #Gatineau, même en motoneige! #tempête #neige #snowday pic.twitter.com/t6y4wjDN7X / Twitter"
— PoliceGatineau (@PoliceGatineau) PoliceGatineau on Twitter: "Nos policiers patrouillent et interviennent partout à #Gatineau, même en motoneige! #tempête #neige #snowday pic.twitter.com/t6y4wjDN7X / Twitter"
1:25 pm. Bus stuck. Rideau and Dalhousie. Pic from A. Robertson. 29cm and counting folks. pic.twitter.com/ZovMQqp5OO
1:25 pm. Bus stuck. Rideau and Dalhousie. Pic from A. Robertson. 29cm and counting folks. Ian Black on Twitter: "1:25 pm. Bus stuck. Rideau and Dalhousie. Pic from A. Robertson. 29cm and counting folks. pic.twitter.com/ZovMQqp5OO / Twitter"
— Ian Black (@BlacksWeather) Ian Black on Twitter: "1:25 pm. Bus stuck. Rideau and Dalhousie. Pic from A. Robertson. 29cm and counting folks. pic.twitter.com/ZovMQqp5OO / Twitter"
Great shot by J.P. Unger of the Slater Station bus stop swarm... pic.twitter.com/js02l0uK3p
Great shot by J.P. Unger of the Slater Station bus stop swarm... All in a Day on Twitter: "Great shot by J.P. Unger of the Slater Station bus stop swarm... pic.twitter.com/js02l0uK3p / Twitter"
— All in a Day (@cbcallinaday) All in a Day on Twitter: "Great shot by J.P. Unger of the Slater Station bus stop swarm... pic.twitter.com/js02l0uK3p / Twitter"
The driving conditions were terrible. Within twelve hours, there were 120 accidents reported.
From 5 am to 5 pm a total of 120 reported collisions in #ottcity. #Bsafe #WinterDrivingSkills
From 5 am to 5 pm a total of 120 reported collisions in Ottawa Police on Twitter: "From 5 am to 5 pm a total of 120 reported collisions in #ottcity. #Bsafe #WinterDrivingSkills / Twitter". Ottawa Police on Twitter: "From 5 am to 5 pm a total of 120 reported collisions in #ottcity. #Bsafe #WinterDrivingSkills / Twitter" Ottawa Police on Twitter: "From 5 am to 5 pm a total of 120 reported collisions in #ottcity. #Bsafe #WinterDrivingSkills / Twitter"
— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) Ottawa Police on Twitter: "From 5 am to 5 pm a total of 120 reported collisions in #ottcity. #Bsafe #WinterDrivingSkills / Twitter"
There weren't too many good reasons to leave the house. Some devout hockey fans did what was necessary to get to an Ottawa Senators v. Buffalo Sabres game at the Canadian Tire Centre.
Senators spokesperson Brian Morris made it clear that fans who could not make it to the game would be offered a free ticket. He also told fans who did make it that they could get 50 per cent off to some upcoming games.
For those who made it out that day, the best modes of transportation were walking, sledding, or skiing.
The only way to travel on a #snowday! Dog sledding through the streets of #Ottawa. @BlacksWeather @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/a8i3gH5SIu
The only way to travel on a Nancy on Twitter: "The only way to travel on a #snowday! Dog sledding through the streets of #Ottawa. @BlacksWeather @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/a8i3gH5SIu / Twitter"! Dog sledding through the streets of Nancy on Twitter: "The only way to travel on a #snowday! Dog sledding through the streets of #Ottawa. @BlacksWeather @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/a8i3gH5SIu / Twitter". Nancy on Twitter: "The only way to travel on a #snowday! Dog sledding through the streets of #Ottawa. @BlacksWeather @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/a8i3gH5SIu / Twitter" Nancy on Twitter: "The only way to travel on a #snowday! Dog sledding through the streets of #Ottawa. @BlacksWeather @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/a8i3gH5SIu / Twitter" Nancy on Twitter: "The only way to travel on a #snowday! Dog sledding through the streets of #Ottawa. @BlacksWeather @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/a8i3gH5SIu / Twitter"
— Nancy (@NancyFromCanada) Nancy on Twitter: "The only way to travel on a #snowday! Dog sledding through the streets of #Ottawa. @BlacksWeather @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/a8i3gH5SIu / Twitter"
Skiing down the sidewalk on Somerset St W during the Ottawa snowstorm via @JackpineCo #ottnews #sidewalkski pic.twitter.com/njBB32CNLl
Skiing down the sidewalk on Somerset St W during the Ottawa snowstorm via @JackpineCo CBC Ottawa on Twitter: "Skiing down the sidewalk on Somerset St W during the Ottawa snowstorm via @JackpineCo #ottnews #sidewalkski pic.twitter.com/njBB32CNLl / Twitter" CBC Ottawa on Twitter: "Skiing down the sidewalk on Somerset St W during the Ottawa snowstorm via @JackpineCo #ottnews #sidewalkski pic.twitter.com/njBB32CNLl / Twitter" CBC Ottawa on Twitter: "Skiing down the sidewalk on Somerset St W during the Ottawa snowstorm via @JackpineCo #ottnews #sidewalkski pic.twitter.com/njBB32CNLl / Twitter"
— CBC Ottawa (@CBCOttawa) CBC Ottawa on Twitter: "Skiing down the sidewalk on Somerset St W during the Ottawa snowstorm via @JackpineCo #ottnews #sidewalkski pic.twitter.com/njBB32CNLl / Twitter"
The city banned overnight street parking so plows could clear the roads. Drivers were given complimentary parking at city-owned garages.
Look at all those windshield wipers. #otttraffic #ottnews #ottweather pic.twitter.com/SGPpvMb9wT
Look at all those windshield wipers. Cody G on Twitter: "Look at all those windshield wipers. #otttraffic #ottnews #ottweather pic.twitter.com/SGPpvMb9wT / Twitter" Cody G on Twitter: "Look at all those windshield wipers. #otttraffic #ottnews #ottweather pic.twitter.com/SGPpvMb9wT / Twitter" Cody G on Twitter: "Look at all those windshield wipers. #otttraffic #ottnews #ottweather pic.twitter.com/SGPpvMb9wT / Twitter" Cody G on Twitter: "Look at all those windshield wipers. #otttraffic #ottnews #ottweather pic.twitter.com/SGPpvMb9wT / Twitter"
— Cody G (@Codrouge) Cody G on Twitter: "Look at all those windshield wipers. #otttraffic #ottnews #ottweather pic.twitter.com/SGPpvMb9wT / Twitter"
To learn more about Ottawa's snowiest day, listen to today's episode of "This Day In Weather History."
You can barely see the parliament buildings. #cdnpoli #hw pic.twitter.com/awKXD1aAoE
You can barely see the parliament buildings. Hannah Thibedeau on Twitter: "You can barely see the parliament buildings. #cdnpoli #hw pic.twitter.com/awKXD1aAoE / Twitter" Hannah Thibedeau on Twitter: "You can barely see the parliament buildings. #cdnpoli #hw pic.twitter.com/awKXD1aAoE / Twitter" Hannah Thibedeau on Twitter: "You can barely see the parliament buildings. #cdnpoli #hw pic.twitter.com/awKXD1aAoE / Twitter"
— Hannah Thibedeau (@HannahThibedeau) Hannah Thibedeau on Twitter: "You can barely see the parliament buildings. #cdnpoli #hw pic.twitter.com/awKXD1aAoE / Twitter"
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