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A “significant weather event” was declared in Lambton County after a winter storm caused treacherous driving conditions
Published Feb 07, 2026 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 4 minute read
Stranded vehicles and treacherous driving conditions are shown on a road in Lambton County on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (OPP photo)Article content
A winter wallop that closed roadways and left many stranded in Sarnia-Lambton was drawing comparisons Saturday to 2010’s ‘Snowmageddon.’
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“We are no stranger to these weather events,” said Warwick Township Mayor Todd Case, at the east Lambton municipality’s Watford arena, transformed into a warming centre for stranded motorists.
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“In 2010, we all had Snowmageddon that we all refer to it as,” Case said.
That three-day December blizzard and highway closure stranded 600 and led emergency response officials in the aftermath to plan for future events.
“We do have a very good plan when stuff like this happens,” Case said.
All of Highway 402 was closed Saturday morning, as Lambton County declared a “significant weather event.”
OPP Const. Ed Sanchuk, in an 8:30 a.m. social media post, urged people to stay off the roads, and said OPP had received more than 300 calls since 6 p.m. Friday.
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“All east and westbound lanes from Sarnia to the 401, and from the 401 split to the 402, it’s closed,” Sanchuk said in a video.
“You cannot use the 402.”
Midday police posted they were still responding to calls for service, reminding people to avoid non-essential travel and continue monitoring OPP social media and 511 Ontario for road closure updates.
Officers were also out on snowmobiles, rescuing people snowed in.
Motorists stranded, “rest assured we do have resources coming to you,” Sanchuk said, reminding people to run their vehicles intermittently to stay warm.
“We are eventually going to arrive to you, so please give us that time,” he said.
Everyone else, stay home, he said.
In an update just before 2 p.m., the OPP said the eastbound lanes of Highway 402 from Mandaumin Road to Highway 401 and the westbound lanes from Oil Heritage Road to Sarnia had reopened.
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Five people suffered minor injuries in a multi-vehicle crash on Calvert Drive near Glencoe in western Middlesex County, the OPP said in a social media post at about 3:30 p.m.
Sarnia’s Jayla Croteau and Corey Morden spent the night at Watford’s arena.
Sarnia’s Corey Morden and Jayla Croteau, pictured Saturday, were among those making use of a warming centre at Watford’s arena, after a blizzard closed Highway 402. (Tyler Kula/ The Observer) jpg, SO, apsmc
Heading back from London at around 7:30 p.m. Friday, Croteau and Morden said they were diverted off Highway 402 in Strathroy, and made it about as far as Churchill Line and Nauvoo Road south of Watford, where their vehicle and others became lodged in snow.
“You couldn’t see anything,” said Croteau, comparing the blowing snow while driving to static on a television.
“I’ve never experienced a total whiteout like that.”
Nearby residents brought a front-end loader and dug people out.
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“So grateful,” Croteau said.
She and Morden parked at a convenience store in Watford.
“We were in the parking lot . . . starting to fall asleep with a blanket, then one of the volunteers here banged on the window and said ‘follow me,’” Morden said.
They arrived to the East Lambton Community Complex around 3 a.m., he said.
“They fed us and everybody here has been working kind of non-stop to make sure everybody is comfortable,” he said.
“Thanks to everybody.”
Between 20 and 30 people had made use of the warming station by mid Saturday, said Darcy Verstraten, one of the volunteers helping at the site with the Optimist Club of Watford.
Firefighters and other citizens also helped out, Case said.
“Very, very proud of the people in my community and how they reacted,” he said.
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“Obviously our job is when something like this happens is to make sure people are warm, make sure they’re fed and looked after while they’re here.”
Snow squalls developed in the wake of a low pressure system Friday, bringing varied snowfall around the region, with some areas reporting more than 20 centimetres, said Environment Canada meteorologist Isabel Richardson.
“Environment Canada actually had a blizzard warning issued in the afternoon (Friday) for areas just southeast of Lake Huron,” she said.
Blowing snow and cold warnings for the region persisted Saturday morning.
Stephen Minielly clears snow from a driveway along Watford’s Main Street Saturday afternoon. Minielly said he’s contracted to clear snow by Warwick Township, and had been clearing municipal parking lots and private driveways since 5 a.m. (Tyler Kula/ The Observer) jpg, SO, apsmc
Another 10 centimetres was expected Saturday, and winds were expected to weaken by the evening, Richardson.
“And this should come to an end.”
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Amid various other road closures, Lambton County Saturday activated its emergency operations centre to coordinate emergency response efforts.
Call 911 in an emergency, and 811 for non-urgent medical concerns, the county said.
“Public safety is our top priority,” said deputy warden Jeff Agar in a news release.
“We are asking residents to take this situation seriously, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow all road closures and safety advisories.
“These measures help protect both the public and the emergency responders working in challenging conditions.”
A list of warming stations was posted at lambtonpublichealth.ca/warming-and-cooling-centres-in-lambton-county, and all library branches were closed, county officials said in the release.
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Plympton-Wyoming also declared a significant weather event, saying the declaration is to let people know to use extreme caution, and that it will take longer to clear roads.
“Public works has been really working hard,” said Plympton-Wyoming emergency management coordinator Dave Clarke.
“They’ve been hampered by obviously stranded transports and everything even blocking in areas. They’re working as fast as they can to get the roads open.”
Clarke, noting he was stranded Saturday morning in Grand Bend, said there have been people arriving at the town’s warming centre in Camlachie.
Another was at the Plympton-Wyoming Agricultural Building in Wyoming.
“It’s basically a place to go and get out of the storm if stranded motorists need to,” he said.
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The East Lambton Community Complex in Watford was one of several warming stations open for stranded motorists amid a blizzard and road closures in Sarnia-Lambton over the weekend. (Tyler Kula/ The Observer) jpg, SO, apsmc
OPP in a news release, reminded people to drive according to conditions, carry emergency kits, and avoid unnecessary travel.
People stuck in their vehicles, police said, should:
• remain with their vehicles, and run the engine periodically for warmth;
• ensure the exhaust pipe is clear of snow and ice to prevent carbon monoxide buildup
• turn off unnecessary electronics to conserve battery power
• use blankets, extra clothing and layers to keep warm
• turn on hazard lights when the engine is running
• monitor OPP social media and 511 Ontario
• only call 911 for emergencies, like medical distress or if you’re out of fuel.
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