Environment Canada says Sunday’s winter storm could end up dropping as much as 60 cm of snow in some parts of Toronto and areas west of the city.
In an updated orange winter storm warning, the national weather service says the southern parts of Etobicoke and Mississauga could see the elevated totals due in large part to the band of lake-enhanced snow off Lake Ontario.
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Other regions will see amounts of between 30 and 50 cm with snowfall rates of 5 to 8 cm per hour at the peak of the storm.
An orange alert is issued when severe weather is likely to result in significant damage, disruption or health impacts.
Wind gusts of up to 50 km/h are resulting in blowing snow, leading to hazardous driving conditions across Toronto and the GTHA, while also resulting in hundreds of cancelled flights on Sunday.
The snowfall is expected to peak in the afternoon and evening, before tapering off to periods of light snow or flurries overnight.
Similar orange warnings are in effect for Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Burlington, Oakville, Pickering, Oshawa, Hamilton and Niagara Falls.
City of Toronto activates second major snow event
Just before 5 p.m., the City of Toronto activated its second major snow event response plan of the year and declared a major snowstorm.
“Torontonians are encouraged to refrain from unnecessary travel and stay in place wherever possible,” a City spokesperson wrote in a press release. “Continuous plowing is happening around the clock across Toronto. Where possible, residents and visitors are asked to consider transit as road conditions may be diminished.”
Drivers are being reminded that parking on snow routes is prohibited while the major snowstorm declaration is in effect. Snow routes are posted with permanent “snow route” signage, including on all roads with streetcar tracks. Vehicles parked on these streets could be fined, towed and impounded.
“The significant increase in snow means it may take longer than usual to clear roads, sidewalks and bicycle lanes. Because of this, the City is declaring a Significant Weather Event,” the spokesperson added. “Under this, the City is exempt from Provincial service levels for winter maintenance, as per provincial regulations, and snow clearing focuses on prioritization for community safety.”
Meanwhile, Ontario Provincial Police say they have responded to approximately 100 car crashes over the past 24 hours in the GTHA.
Multiple transit issues and closures
As of 3:29 p.m. on Sunday there is no service on Line 6 Finch West LRT between Finch West and Humber College due to “switch issues,” the TTC says. Shuttle buses are running.
Line 1 Yonge-University is also being affected by weather conditions. As of 3:49 p.m. there is no service between Sheppard West and St. Clair stations.
There is also no service on Line 2 Bloor-Danforth between Woodbine and Kennedy stations.
Hundreds of flight cancellations
Toronto Pearson International Airport says the storm is having an impact on its operations. As of 3 p.m. Sunday, more than 560 flights had been cancelled – 61 per cent of departing flights and 63 per cent of arrivals.
“Passengers are advised to check their flight status with their airline before coming to the airport, as the winter weather is impacting flight operations, and schedules may change throughout the day,” airport officials said on Sunday.
Toronto’s Billy Bishop airport says 33 flights have been cancelled on Sunday.
More than 16,000 flights have been cancelled across the U.S. since Saturday, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware, with more than 11,500 of those scheduled for Sunday. Aviation analytics company Cirium says its data shows that Sunday will be the highest cancellation event since the pandemic.
The City of Toronto says all library branches and museums will be closed, and it has cancelled all recreational programs at school locations today due to the weather. Community rec centres remain open but the city warns there may be localized closures due to the declining conditions.
The severe weather has also forced the Toronto Zoo to close its doors on Sunday for “safety and wellbeing of the animals, staff, volunteers and guests.” The Zoo will also be closed on Monday in order to allow for snow-clearing operations.
The City of Mississauga has declared a significant weather event due to the winter storm. City Hall, municipal office buildings and libraries will be closed Sunday, while municipal services will be suspended. Community centres and arenas are closed as of noon, except for the Paramount Fine Foods Centre, which is hosting the Scottie Tournament of Hearts event. Outdoor skating rinks are also closed until weather conditions make them safe to reopen.
The City of Hamilton has declared a similar significant weather event, resulting in the closure of all municipal buildings, community centres, arenas, museums and Gage Park Greenhouse.
The City of Oshawa says all city facilities will be closed on Sunday after declaring a significant weather event. City facilities will re-open no earlier than 12 noon on Monday.
Messy Monday commute
Toronto is not currently under any declarations, but that scenario could change come Monday as people prepare to return to work and school.
“This hits heading into the Monday commute, it’s going to be messy,” said Johnson. “We do our very best to keep plowing in real time, but if there is snow happening as we go through late Sunday into Monday morning, it will make for a messy commute.”
The storm could impact school closings in the GTA on Monday. The Toronto Catholic District School Board says if schools are closed on Monday, then high school exams scheduled for that day will be moved to Thursday. Exams currently scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday will proceed as planned.
The Toronto District School Board says it will be monitoring the snowfall on Sunday and will provide an update to parents and students by 6 a.m. Monday morning.
Environment Canada says Sunday’s winter storm could end up dropping as much as 60 cm of snow in some parts of Toronto and areas west of the city. In an updated orange winter storm warning, the national weather service says the southern parts of Etobicoke and Mississauga could see the elevated totals due in large Local
Environment Canada says Sunday’s winter storm could end up dropping as much as 60 cm of snow in some parts of Toronto and areas west of the city.
In an updated orange winter storm warning, the national weather service says the southern parts of Etobicoke and Mississauga could see the elevated totals due in large part to the band of lake-enhanced snow off Lake Ontario.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO LIVE WEATHER COVERAGE!
Other regions will see amounts of between 30 and 50 cm with snowfall rates of 5 to 8 cm per hour at the peak of the storm.
An orange alert is issued when severe weather is likely to result in significant damage, disruption or health impacts.
Wind gusts of up to 50 km/h are resulting in blowing snow, leading to hazardous driving conditions across Toronto and the GTHA, while also resulting in hundreds of cancelled flights on Sunday.
The snowfall is expected to peak in the afternoon and evening, before tapering off to periods of light snow or flurries overnight.
Similar orange warnings are in effect for Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Burlington, Oakville, Pickering, Oshawa, Hamilton and Niagara Falls.
City of Toronto activates second major snow event
Just before 5 p.m., the City of Toronto activated its second major snow event response plan of the year and declared a major snowstorm.
“Torontonians are encouraged to refrain from unnecessary travel and stay in place wherever possible,” a City spokesperson wrote in a press release. “Continuous plowing is happening around the clock across Toronto. Where possible, residents and visitors are asked to consider transit as road conditions may be diminished.”
Drivers are being reminded that parking on snow routes is prohibited while the major snowstorm declaration is in effect. Snow routes are posted with permanent “snow route” signage, including on all roads with streetcar tracks. Vehicles parked on these streets could be fined, towed and impounded.
“The significant increase in snow means it may take longer than usual to clear roads, sidewalks and bicycle lanes. Because of this, the City is declaring a Significant Weather Event,” the spokesperson added. “Under this, the City is exempt from Provincial service levels for winter maintenance, as per provincial regulations, and snow clearing focuses on prioritization for community safety.”
Meanwhile, Ontario Provincial Police say they have responded to approximately 100 car crashes over the past 24 hours in the GTHA.
Multiple transit issues and closures
As of 3:29 p.m. on Sunday there is no service on Line 6 Finch West LRT between Finch West and Humber College due to “switch issues,” the TTC says. Shuttle buses are running.
Line 1 Yonge-University is also being affected by weather conditions. As of 3:49 p.m. there is no service between Sheppard West and St. Clair stations.
There is also no service on Line 2 Bloor-Danforth between Woodbine and Kennedy stations.
Hundreds of flight cancellations
Toronto Pearson International Airport says the storm is having an impact on its operations. As of 3 p.m. Sunday, more than 560 flights had been cancelled – 61 per cent of departing flights and 63 per cent of arrivals.
“Passengers are advised to check their flight status with their airline before coming to the airport, as the winter weather is impacting flight operations, and schedules may change throughout the day,” airport officials said on Sunday.
Toronto’s Billy Bishop airport says 33 flights have been cancelled on Sunday.
More than 16,000 flights have been cancelled across the U.S. since Saturday, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware, with more than 11,500 of those scheduled for Sunday. Aviation analytics company Cirium says its data shows that Sunday will be the highest cancellation event since the pandemic.
The City of Toronto says all library branches and museums will be closed, and it has cancelled all recreational programs at school locations today due to the weather. Community rec centres remain open but the city warns there may be localized closures due to the declining conditions.
The severe weather has also forced the Toronto Zoo to close its doors on Sunday for “safety and wellbeing of the animals, staff, volunteers and guests.” The Zoo will also be closed on Monday in order to allow for snow-clearing operations.
The City of Mississauga has declared a significant weather event due to the winter storm. City Hall, municipal office buildings and libraries will be closed Sunday, while municipal services will be suspended. Community centres and arenas are closed as of noon, except for the Paramount Fine Foods Centre, which is hosting the Scottie Tournament of Hearts event. Outdoor skating rinks are also closed until weather conditions make them safe to reopen.
The City of Hamilton has declared a similar significant weather event, resulting in the closure of all municipal buildings, community centres, arenas, museums and Gage Park Greenhouse.
The City of Oshawa says all city facilities will be closed on Sunday after declaring a significant weather event. City facilities will re-open no earlier than 12 noon on Monday.
Messy Monday commute
Toronto is not currently under any declarations, but that scenario could change come Monday as people prepare to return to work and school.
“This hits heading into the Monday commute, it’s going to be messy,” said Johnson. “We do our very best to keep plowing in real time, but if there is snow happening as we go through late Sunday into Monday morning, it will make for a messy commute.”
The storm could impact school closings in the GTA on Monday. The Toronto Catholic District School Board says if schools are closed on Monday, then high school exams scheduled for that day will be moved to Thursday. Exams currently scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday will proceed as planned.
The Toronto District School Board says it will be monitoring the snowfall on Sunday and will provide an update to parents and students by 6 a.m. Monday morning.