Dangerous whiteout conditions and wind gusts reaching 80 km/h have prompted a blowing snow advisory for Barrie, Ontario, on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Environment Canada says the extreme winds are picking up existing snow and creating near‑zero visibility for drivers. Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and City of Barrie officials warn the conditions could lead to road closures throughout the day.
The Ontario Provincial Police say they are already responding to vehicles sliding into ditches along Highway 400 between Mapleview Drive and Essa Road. Officials warned the highway could be shut down entirely if multi‑vehicle crashes occur due to the poor visibility. Drivers can check for real‑time updates and closures through Ontario 511 before attempting to travel.
The City of Barrie says it has deployed salt and sand units, but high winds coming off Kempenfelt Bay are making it difficult to keep the pavement clear. Residents are being encouraged to stay home as the blowing snow makes it hard for even heavy snowplows to see the road ahead.
This type of weather is often called a ground blizzard because it can look clear above while the air at the windshield level is thick with snow. Similar conditions have caused large pileups on local highways in the past; for example, CBC has documented multi‑vehicle pileups on Highway 400 in whiteout conditions (see CBC archive reporting).
