Buried: Ontario city on ‘high alert’ with 300 cm of snow on the ground
The city has been on high alert since December 28.
Barrie, Ontario is in the midst of a significant weather event. Between November 1 and January 28, more than 300 cm of snow, or 9.5 feet, have accumulated on the ground.
The unusual conditions prompted officials to put the city on "high" alert on December 28.
As of January 29, it is still in place, making it the longest standing declaration in Barrie's history.
“Crews continue to restore winter maintenance standards across the city and are working around the clock in frigid conditions to ensure roads are plowed and safe for residents,” the city says in a statement.
“Snow lifts continue overnight to remove accumulation on arterial and collector roads in Barrie, with a focus on narrow curb lanes and on-street cycling lanes. In residential areas, there are contracted crews removing snow piles from cul-de-sacs. Crews also continue to address sight line concerns in areas where snow banks are very high.”
The snow has created large piles that have narrowed roads. Taken on January 13, 2026 in Barrie, Ont. (Mark Robinson).
Officials say the alert will remain in place until all narrowed roads and bicycle lanes are sufficiently cleared. The city is home to approximately 150,000 people.
Weeks of snow on the ground
Weather Network storm hunter and meteorologist Mark Robinson visited Barrie on January 13. He says the towering accumulation is due to lake effect snow.
“The lakes have been open,” he says.
“And we're easily able to reach the criteria to get lake effect snow going. One of the interesting things this year is the way that the jet stream has been oriented. It is influencing lake effect squalls coming off of Georgian Bay, and all of that snow is landing in Barrie.”
Robinson says a common theme among the Barrie residents he spoke to was snow weariness.
“A lot of people I spoke to were saying things like, ‘this snow just isn’t stopping! It just keeps coming!’ and 'when will it end?'
"One city operations manager told me their snow removal storage places are filling up, and they’re going to have to move snow to other storage facilities. Keep in mind, this was in mid-January. There has been more snow since then.”
Snow removal crews in Barrie, Ont. on January 13, 2026. (Mark Robinson)
Is there more snow in Barrie’s future?
It’s possible, Robinson says.
“Southern Ontario, as a whole, is known to get snow in February, and oftentimes big storms. Barrie is included in that, but it really depends on how much the ice closes over on the lake. The less open water there is, the less chance you’re going to get snow squalls. The lake doesn’t have any effect on major snow systems and snowstorms, but the status of the lake could definitely influence the total amount of snow that falls in cities like Barrie this winter.”
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Header image: Snow piles in Barrie, Ontario on January 13, 2026. (Mark Robinson)