Wind warning is over, but ice, blowing snow still a problem in some areas

The wild winds that battered Hamilton and the Niagara Region have died down enough for Environment Canada to end its warning.

But a blowing snow advisory remains in effect and the weather authority is warning drivers of reduced visibility.

"Any fresh snow will be whipped up by the winds creating areas of reduced visibility in exposed areas," according to the weather statement. "Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations.

The caution comes after "damaging winds" swept through the area Sunday, knocking down trees, branches and power lines.

Buses delayed, schools still open

The weather has led to school bus delays for both boards in Hamilton. Buses for both boards in Halton and Niagara have been cancelled.

Schools for those boards are still open, however, Providence Christian School in Dundas is closed today because of "whiteout conditions," according to principal Kevin Bouwers.

The Hamilton Conservation Authority has also closed the Dundas Valley, Fifty Point, Christie Lake and Spencer Gorge Conservation Areas due to high winds.

Hydro One says more than 156,000 people have lost electricity in the nearly 24 hours since the storm swept into the province, bringing significant wind gusts and even shifting ice from waterways onto the land.

Power has been restored to about 130,000 customers so far, according to a spokesperson. But there are still hundreds of outages from Windsor to the Ottawa area.

Stay away from ice formations

Environment Canada spokesman, ​Gerald Cheng, says the agency recorded maximum wind gusts of 128 kilometres an hour in the Niagara region, where video footage shows wind blowing large chunks of ice from the Niagara River over a retaining wall.

The Niagara Parks Commission is asking the public to use caution when driving south along the Niagara Parkway, especially in Fort Erie. A section of the parkway has been closed between Central Avenue and Queen Street — traffic is being re-routed.

A spokesperson noted "large ice formations" have tumbled over the wall and spilled onto the sidewalk, but added a word of warning.

"While visually stunning, these ice formations continue to move and shift, and members of the public are asked to please avoid this area, as the ice formations do pose a risk to public safety," wrote Tony Baldinelli in a media release.

We're not out of the woods yet

 Cheng says while windy conditions will still prevail across southern Ontario throughout the day, gusts will die down to closer to 60 kilometres an hour as the day continues.

"It is starting to abate, but we're not quite out of the woods."