Exposure to cold weather can be harmful to your health. Wind always makes it feel colder, and increases the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. During extreme cold weather conditions, please call, visit, or check on vulnerable family, friends, and neighbours.
The City of Hamilton has notified community agencies who work with people who are vulnerable and experiencing homelessness. City of Hamilton Recreation Centres and Hamilton Public Library branches are available as warming spaces during regular business hours. For more information visit www.hamilton.ca/cold.
The City of Hamilton has launched an enhanced Winter Response Strategy to support unhoused and vulnerable residents, which will be in effect daily from December 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. For more information visit www.hamilton.ca/WinterResponse.
The best place for you during a Cold Weather Alert is indoors. If you must be outside:
- Dress in layers of clothing. Keep inner layers dry. Wet clothing increases the risk of cold injury.
- Protect your face, ears and hands with a scarf, hat, and gloves.
- To protect your feet, socks must be dry. Wool is a good material to keep your feet dry.
- Drink warm fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
- Avoid strenuous exercise.
Key Winter Operations Facts:
- Preparedness: All storage facilities are continually stocked to ensure salt and sand is always available. The City typically uses 65,000 tons of salt annually, with 37,000 tons of storage, restocked when used.
- Fleet & Staffing: The City has 115 in-house and 49 contracted combination plows, supported by an additional 177 pieces of winter equipment, including graders, loaders, and skid steers. These resources are on standby and ready to respond to the event.
- De-Icing Materials: The City primarily uses brine to anti-ice roadways when conditions allow and treat the roads with rock salt prior, during and after events. When temperatures drop and salt becomes more ineffective, we switch to a salt/sand mix to provide traction.
- Plowing Activation: We actively have combination plows stationed on escarpment accesses and priority routes prior to precipitation. Staff apply material and plow as required in order to meet Council approved Levels of Service.
Key Reminders for Residents:
- Park in driveways when possible, to allow plows to clear streets more effectively.
- Avoid unnecessary travel, and drive cautiously, giving snowplows and salt trucks plenty of space.
- Carry an emergency kit in vehicles and allow extra travel time.
- It is an offense under the Highway Traffic Act (Section 181) to deposit snow onto roadways.
- Report hazardous road conditions by calling (905) 546-CITY (2489).
Brad Clark Report 
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