An intense snow squall has focused its fury on Orillia this morning.
Those who have ventured out on city streets are saying the conditions are poor, and urge people to stay at home where possible.
It's expected Orillia will get an additional 20 cm of snow today. So far, February is looking a lot like January, which saw a near record amount of snow for Orillia.
"Poor visibility and deteriorating road conditions are expected throughout the day," notes a post from the City of Orillia on social media.
City officials say transit will be delayed due to the weather. In addition, waste collection will be today and may go into Saturday if conditions do not improve.
"Please don’t place materials on snowbanks or in the path of snow clearing equipment," notes the city's post. "Please uncover materials set out so collectors can find them. We appreciate your patience as crews work through the storm."
The city says snow plows have been "fully deployed" according to the city's winter control policy.
"When we receive significant snowfall, our priority is clearing main arterial roads first to ensure essential travel routes remain open," notes the release.
"Please avoid travel unless absolutely necessary. If you must go out, be prepared for hazardous conditions and reduced visibility."
Due to the poor road and weather conditions, all in-person classes at Lakehead University's Orillia campus have been cancelled for today. Online classes will continue as scheduled. The campus remains open.
The Orillia campus of Georgian College will close as of noon today due to the storm. Students should check Blackboard for instructions about moving their classes to remote learning for the day, officials say.
For more information on the city's winter control operations, visit orillia.ca/wintercontrol.