Area 5

Meteorologists say snow squalls may impact parts of the London area Thursday evening ahead of frigid temperatures in the forecast for Friday.

Late Thursday afternoon, Environment Canada issued a snow squall watch for several areas in southwestern Ontario, including London-Middlesex and parts of Woodstock and Oxford County.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit has issued its first cold weather alert of the year as temperatures are set to plunge well-below freezing.

The alert will come into effect after midnight with windchill values expected at -22 C, the health unit said on Thursday. The alert will continue through Friday with frigid temperatures and strong winds making it feel like -23 C around London and Middlesex County.

There are also flurries in the forecast which could bring a few centimetres of snowfall by Friday evening.

Bruce Power’s Unit 3 has now been in service for 45 years, as the nuclear power unit began providing reliable power back in 1978. Unit 3 will get new life as the final preparations are underway to take the unit offline March 1, for a major component replacement.

Bruce Power’s Life-Extension program is one of Canada’s largest private-sector clean-energy projects, which will help Ontario and Canada achieve their Net Zero targets. Unit 3 established set a record of 404 continuous days online in 2020.

News Great Lakes Commission seeks contributions to map showing how Great Lakes communities are advancing water infrastructure

Goderich councillors have approved a few options for staffing looking for more flexibility in their work week.

Mayor Myles Murdock says times have changed and staff retention can be a challenge, and he says one way of meeting that challenge is providing some flexibility in the work week. Murdock says council has come up with four options.

Another local emergency department is closed because of a lack of staff.

The South Bruce Grey Health Centre confirms the emergency department in Chesley will be closed all day on February 2, and won’t re-open until 7 a.m. on Friday, February 3. The SBGHC says all efforts were undertaken to staff the ED in Chesley, but those attempts were unsuccessful.

Ambulance by-pass has been undertaken to divert patients to the nearest open ED.

**Updated as of 8:20, February 2, 2023**

Wiarton Willie, South Bruce Peninsula’s weather prognosticating groundhog, emerged from his den this morning to tell us how much longer winter will last.

Willie says we will get an early spring.

Prediction Morning kicked off with fireworks in Bluewater Park.

Following that, there were activities planned in the Wiarton Arena parking lot following the big prediction.

As a Platinum sponsor of the Wiarton Willie 2023 Festival, Bruce Power joined in the festivities.

Huron Shores Area Transit (HSAT) is adjusting its ticket prices.

Transit Coordinator Susan Mills says a consultant suggested prices of $5 for local trips and $10 for longer trips, but in an attempt to encourage ridership during the pandemic, the two-fee structure was reduced to a flat fee of $5, regardless of destination.

An organization that works to protect and restore Lake Huron’s coastal environment has received funding to address risks created by plastic pollution.

The Lake Huron Coastal Centre said it will use the $44,000 from the provincial government to aid in a number of beach restoration projects.

“This funding will support micro-plastics research, the installation of beach clean-up stations and storm water catchment basin filters as well as help us host thirteen beach clean-ups from Sarnia to Georgian Bay,” said Coastal Stewardship Technician Alyssa Bourassa.

A crash just outside Lambeth Wednesday evening has led to a police investigation and a road closure.

According to London police, officers responded to a serious, two-vehicle collision on Bostwick Road at around 7:20 p.m.

Bostwick between Southdale Road West and Wharncliffe Road South remains closed as of late Wednesday evening while members of the Traffic Management Unit investigates the incident and clears the scene.

Drivers are asked to stay clear of the area while the investigation continues. No details about injuries have been provided.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit says up to 4,000 students could be suspended from school later this month if their immunization records aren’t updated.

According to Medical Officer of Health Dr. Alex Summers, between 3,000 and 4,000 students in London and Middlesex County could be suspended on February 15 due to outstanding vaccination records. These children have either not received the mandatory immunizations, or, if they have been vaccinated, their records are out of date.