UPDATE: OPP opening some roads in the South Bruce Area as power slowly comes back on (Jan 30, 2008, 5:45 p.m.)

Constable Jim Conrad of the South Bruce OPP have re-opened several roads in the area

Highway 9 from Clifford to Walkerton and from Walkerton to Kincardine is now open, along with Highway 21 from Amberley to Kincardine and Kincardine to Tiverton. 

Bruce County Road 23 and County Road 33 have also been re-opened.

"Conditions are better but there continues to be a high wind warning for
the area which is causing poor visibility at time."

The remainder of the County Roads in Bruce County are being monitored
for visibility conditions.

Huron OPP report that barricades have been removed and the following roads are now open in Huron County. Highway 8 (Huron Road) between Clinton and Mitchell is now open. County Road 87 (Harriston Road) between Bluevale and Howick-Minton Line is now open.

Updates will be made when conditions change.

Hydro One is slowly getting the lights back on for some of the 25,000 customers that lost power in the high winds. Others however, about 500 as of 5:45 p.m. in the Walkerton system are not so lucky and may have to wait hours before they can put away the flashlights.

UPDATE: Storm causes road closures and power outages (Jan 30, 2008, 12:30 p.m.)

Hydro One says power not may be restored to some local areas until 11:30 p.m. tonight, (Jan 30, 2008), as well, OPP are still saying to, “Stay off the roads.” As of 8:30 a.m. the OPP have said that all roads in Bruce County are to be considered closed.

Although power has been restored in some areas, power outages are scattered across parts of Huron-Kinloss and area, as is the case in other parts of the County.

Hydro One reports that there were 2,398 in the Walkerton distribution system without power shortly after noon on Jan 30, with the Orangeville area being hit harder, with about 3,400 customers waiting for repairs.

The Clinton, Listowel and Owen Sound areas were also hit with outages.

High winds and downed trees caused much of the damage.

Road and weather conditions continue to slow down the work crews trying to restore the power.

Meanwhile, the OPP are warning drivers to stay off the roads, as they are considered closed due to weather conditions.

Earlier today, Constable Jim Conrad of the South Bruce OPP said that the OPP had closed all County Roads in Bruce County, Highway 9 from Clifford to Walkerton to Kincardine, and Highway 21 from Amberley to Kincardine to Southampton due to High winds, blowing snow and white out conditions. 

Bruce Power wants its employees to stay safe and follow the OPP’s instructions not to take to the roads.

More updates will be made when conditions change.

Storm causes road closures and power outages (Jan 30, 2008, 8:00 a.m.)

Area residents woke this morning (Jan 30, 2008) to find that Mother Nature came overnight to remind us that winter can sometimes mean trouble, following an unusually mild day yesterday, (Jan 29, 2008).

Hydro One reports outages in various parts of Bruce and Huron Counties, including areas in Huron-Kinloss.

Hydro was reported to have gone out in some areas along the lakeshore sometime between 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. on the morning of Jan 30, 2008.

Hydro One says that it could be anywhere from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. before hydro is restored in parts of Huron-Kinloss. Wires are down between the Concession 2 and 4 along Lake Range Drive in Point Clark.

As for the roads, there is no word from the MTO as to when road and driving conditions may improve and when roads would be re-opened.

Poor visibility and driving conditions are reported across much of Bruce, Huron, Grey and Wellington Counties on the roads that are still considered open. Motorists are advised to use extreme caution, as whiteout conditions can happen without warning. Travel only if necessary.

The Observer is running on emergency generator power and will be updated as new information becomes available.

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