Inclement Weather Event - January 15, 2026

Winter Weather Impacts

A significant winter storm has impacted the City of Hamilton beginning last evening and is expected to continue into this afternoon. A total of 10 to 20 cm have fallen already. Environment Canada has issued a Yellow Warning – Snowfall for the City of Hamilton. Snowfall is expected to continue through the morning and taper off into the early afternoon. Snowfall amounts are predicted to be between 20 and 30 cm. Coupled with this the weather system is also bringing very cold wind chills this morning.

Closures

All City administrative offices and City facilities are closed on Thursday, January 15, 2026. 

This includes:

• All Municipal Service Centres and City Hall 
• Recreation & Community Centres 
• Arenas
• Hamilton Civic Museums
• Visitor Experience Centre at 28 James St N
• Provincial Offences Administration (POA) Courts will be closed today pursuant to judicial direction. POA administration and counter services will also be closed. Residents will receive notification for future dates by mail.
• Ontario Works/ Low Income Program at 250 Main St E and 1550 Upper James offices are closed. Staff are available through MyBenefits and by phone 905-546-4800.
• Red Hill Family Centre. If you require further assistance or information please email at [email protected] or if you need to speak with someone immediately, please call 905-973-4666.
• Macassa Lodge Adult Day Program closed.
• Housing Services office at 350 King St E.
• Hamilton Animal Services office and front counter are closed. If you are experiencing an animal-related emergency or it is imperative that you attend the shelter to claim a lost or stray animal, please call us in advance at 905-574-3433.

The Hamilton Farmers' Market is open during inclement weather. Regular hours today 9am to 5pm.

Service Impacts

• Committee Meetings: The Audit, Finance and Administration Committee scheduled for 9:30 am but will be held virtual only.
• Vacant Unit Tax Drop-In Clinic at Flamborough Municipal Service Centre is cancelled.
• Public Health Dental Clinics will be closed today and will reopen tomorrow, Friday January 16.
• 2026 Hamilton New Year's Levee: This evening's event at City Hall is cancelled. Order of Hamilton recipients will be recognized at January 16 & 17 ceremonies.

Transit

• Disabled and Aged Regional Transit System (DARTS) will not be operating.
• HSR buses are experiencing significant delays due to weather. Please use your real-time trip planning app for arrival times and alerts. HSR Customer Service counter at the Hamilton GO Centre is open.

Recreation

Inclement Weather facility closure on Thursday, January 15, 2026 will result in full cancellation of daytime and evening programs and rentals at all City of Hamilton:

• Recreation and Community Centres
• Arenas
• Seniors Centres and Seniors Clubs
• Golf Centres

Affected programming includes:

• Registered Programs
• Drop-in Programs
• Rentals
• Seniors Programs
• After School Programs
• Early ON Programs in Recreation Centres

Waste Collection

• Curbside Waste Collection:  Waste collection crews are out on their routes.  It will be slow going in most areas due to the snow.  Areas not collected today will be prioritized for collection tomorrow.
• Transfer Stations / Community Recycling Centres:  All three transfer stations / community recycling centres are open.  The Re-use store at the Mountain Transfer Station is closed.

Roads & Snow Clearing Efforts

Transportation crews are still out in full force, clearing all roads, sidewalks, bus stops, cross walks and designated bike lanes. All resources have been activated and deployed to address the storm conditions.

• Current focus: priority 1 roads (mains, escarpment crossings and parkways), snow removal around schools (sidewalks and crosswalks), overpass clearing and BIAs
• Next area of focus: residential areas 

Use the Plow Tracker App to see where our maintenance vehicles have been in the last 2, 4, 12 and 24 hours. hamilton.plowtracker.com 

Residential Streets

Cars parked along streets make it difficult for plows and road crews with any size equipment to clear snow. Please remove parked cars from residential streets so road crews can clear streets and sidewalks as quickly and safely as possible. 

Sidewalk Snow Clearing

Unless you live along a City sidewalk clearing route, property owners and/or occupants are responsible for moving snow and ice from sidewalks and street corners adjacent to your property within the 24-hour period* after a snowfall. Help keep the sidewalk clear and safe for pedestrians. 

*The declaration of the Significant Weather Event means there is a pause on the requirement for property owners to clear their property within the 24-hour period after a snowfall.

Windrows are piles of snow left by plows at driveways, sidewalks, and intersections - are a natural part of snow clearing. While they can be frustrating, they are unavoidable. If a windrow is on your property, please shovel carefully, pace yourself, and help a neighbor if you can.

Important Reminders for Residents 

• Keep the sidewalk clear and safe for pedestrians. 
• Park off the street where possible.
• Give our road crews plenty of room to operate.
• Clear fire hydrants.
• Drive safely according to conditions.

Call 905-546-2489 for City-service emergencies.