The City of Pembroke, Ontario, has declared a Significant Weather Event under Ontario Regulation 239/02 (Minimum Maintenance Standards), effective the evening of January 25, 2026, and imposed an immediate ban on all street parking to help plow crews clear dangerous roads. The declaration notifies the public that road conditions are hazardous and that standard snow‑maintenance timelines may be extended while crews focus on keeping main routes open.
Residents must move their vehicles off all municipal streets immediately and keep them off the roads 24 hours a day until the city lifts the Significant Weather Event declaration. The City of Pembroke warns that any cars left on the street may be fined or towed to ensure heavy machinery and salt trucks can work safely. People are encouraged to use their private driveways or designated municipal parking lots until the storm passes.
Heavy winds and ice accumulation are also creating risks for local power lines and infrastructure. The Ottawa River Power Corporation (ORPC) is monitoring the situation for potential outages and has put crews on high alert, urging residents to prepare 72‑hour emergency kits containing items such as flashlights, fresh batteries, and enough food and water for three days.
By declaring this event under the province’s Minimum Maintenance Standards, the city is notifying the public that road conditions are hazardous and beyond normal capacity. Snow removal teams are currently prioritizing Priority 1 roads (emergency routes and main arteries) before moving into local residential neighbourhoods.
Officials will provide updates to the community as the storm continues and will announce when the parking ban has ended. For more details on how the storm is affecting the region, residents can follow updates from the Pembroke Observer or the City of Pembroke’s official notices.
