Snow it Begins: Strategies to Stay Safe in Inclement Weather

This past Sunday, most of Southern Ontario witnessed their first snowfall of the season. Here in Orillia, we experienced the perfect spattering of snowflakes; a picturesque vision of a peaceful, calm, mid-November day. Despite this gentle introduction, we are all too quickly reminded of last year's tumult; multi-car pileups on Highway 11 (and right outside campus), the dreaded April 2025 ice storm that kept many without power for days. Commuters from Muskoka will struggle to forget the devastating first notable snow of last November; the near full metre that pummeled Bracebridge.

As a commuter of Highway 11 myself, I'll admit that, until recently, my resolve was one of stubbornness. Since I consider myself a good driver, with multiple years of experience navigating harsh, northern, wintry terrain accident-free, I figured I could handle getting myself to and from this comparatively southern campus regardless of the weather.

Last year, my opinion changed. I watched multiple cars lose control and slide off the road in front of me. I white knuckled my way through the worst whiteout conditions I've ever experienced, making it out unharmed only by sheer luck. I listened to multiple horror stories of peers and friends pulling over for safety only to get hit from behind by drivers who could not see anything, but did not choose to stop. Sometimes, accidents or otherwise treacherous conditions caused local highways to close for extended periods of time. In the worst of these cases, motorists became stranded, unable to continue their journeys or find shelter through local services for 10 hours or more.

Thunder Bay readers, you may be wondering just how such dramatic weather finds us all the way down in Orillia. Largely, the lake effect is to blame for such snowy conditions. The whole of the Great Lakes region is prone to this. Cold air travels across the open water of these massive lentic systems, which remain in a liquid state and comparatively warm. The heat and moisture then transfers to the atmosphere's lowest portion, causing narrow clouds to form and rise. Under the right circumstances, these clouds are then able to produce over 5cm of snow hourly.

For commuters, if you're not already doing the following, you may want to consider some of these tips:

Make sure your vehicle is fit to get you to your destination.

Now is a great time to get winter tires put on, if you haven't already. Keep yourself stocked up on windshield washer fluid, and make sure you have an ice scraper in your vehicle at all times.

Check the weather before you head out for the day.
Being caught unprepared in the midst of inclement weather is not an enviable experience. Even if the skies have been clear for days, it will give you peace of mind to know what's potentially in store for the next few hours. While we all know that forecasts are not always entirely accurate, they generally provide us with a good idea of when we may be faced with unfavourable conditions.

Keep an up-to-date emergency kit in your vehicle, just in case.

These can be personalized to include what you deem most important, but generally should provide a means to keep yourself warm, fed, powered-up, and in communication with others.

If you are not confident you can make your trip to the school safely, stay home.
Yes, there are critically important tests, labs, presentations, and other responsibilities that I am not suggesting you miss under normal conditions. But if getting to them puts you at risk, reach out to your professors as soon as possible and explain the situation. This is, of course, the worst case scenario. Chances are, if you are unusually uneasy about making it to class, some of your commuting professors may feel similarly to you. In serious cases, you and your peers can discuss with your professors temporarily moving components online where possible, or postponing until conditions are safe again.

If you do decide to go, but regret your decision once it's time to return home - repeat the above advice, and don't head back. While it is not ideal to have to crash at a friend's place or book a room for a night, sometimes, it is the better choice.

For those of you who don't have to commute, there are still ways to prepare for adverse conditions that may affect you at home. Keep canned goods stocked up in preparation for storms. Maintain an eye on the weather. Develop stores of flashlights, extra batteries, tealights, and heat sources that do not require electricity. Ideally, have an emergency plan you can refer to during power outages or major road closures. 

The Old Farmers' Almanac anticipates winter in Ontario's southeast (including Orillia) to be drier, colder, and less snowy than usual. In turn, the province's northern region is predicted to have mild, snowy conditions. Only time will tell how this winter plays out, but regardless, now is a great time to start thinking about how to stay on top of any conditions we may be faced with.