Storm continues overnight in GTA, as region sees as much as 60 cm of snow
About 5 to 10 cm of snow will fall per hour during storm's peak: Environment Canada
A storm will continue to rage across the Greater Toronto Area Sunday overnight and into Monday, with up to 60 centimetres of snow accumulation expected in some parts.
Residents are being urged to avoid all non-essential travel and check their flight status due to several cancellations at Toronto airports.
Environment Canada issued an orange winter storm warning that predicted between 30 and 50 centimetres of snow across the GTA, but some areas, like Toronto and Mississauga, could see over 60 centimetres of accumulation.
It said about six to 10 centimetres of snow could fall per hour during the storm's peak.
Here’s a timeline of what to expect and when, based on information from Environment Canada and CBC Toronto meteorologist Colette Kennedy.
CBC Toronto will update this story as we learn more.
Sunday overnight: Heavy snow gradually tapers off
The snowstorm is expected to lighten up and transition to flurries overnight, but watch out for snowplows on the roads.
It'll be a low of -13 C with a wind chill of -22.
Environment Canada said people should prepare for quickly changing travel conditions and take frequent breaks while clearing away snow. Visibility will be near zero at times in blowing snow with winds gusting to 50 km/h, the national weather agency said in the orange warning.
Prior to Sunday's storm, Toronto had already recorded 105 centimetres of snow this winter, Environment Canada climatologist David Phillips told CBC Toronto Sunday afternoon — that's nearly double what the city normally gets between November and January.
"The amounts of snow are quite impressive," he said. "This has really been the winter of heavy snows."
Kevin Cloutier, a meteorologist at MeteoMedia, said the record snowfall for a single day in January at Toronto Pearson airport was 36.8 centimetres in 1966.
The record snowfall on Jan. 25 in Toronto was 13.8 centimetres in 2023, he added.
Environment Canada also warned disruptions to transportation and utility services would likely occur across the GTA.
About 65 per cent of Pearson International Airport's departing flights over the next 24 hours and 64 per cent of arriving flights over the next 24 hours had been cancelled as of 7:30 p.m. Sunday, according to the airport’s website.
According to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport’s website, 30 departing flights and 30 arriving flights were cancelled on Sunday. As well, 14 arriving flights and 13 departing flights Monday were cancelled as of 8 p.m. Sunday.
The City of Toronto declared a significant weather event and activated its major snow event response plan Sunday afternoon.
In a post to social media Sunday evening, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said there were more than 600 snowplows on roads and sidewalks and over 1,300 city staff and contractors clearing the snow.
Monday morning: Concerns ahead of morning commute
Light snow is expected to continue overnight.
There is a chance lake-effect snow could still be falling by 7 a.m., Kennedy said, with some areas seeing snow squalls. However, she thinks it's more likely the storm system will have cleared out.
There will be a wind chill of -22 in the morning that will warm slightly to -15 in the afternoon.
Brace yourself for a slow commute and consider lending a hand with the shovelling on your street.
"Neighbours helping neighbours, that's the Toronto way," Mayor Olivia Chow said.
At a news conference Sunday evening, the city's manager Paul Johnson said it will be a challenge to move around Monday.
"Give yourself a little extra time if you have to go somewhere first thing tomorrow morning. It's the beginning of the work week. We know," he said. "This is going to take us into Monday, there's no question."
All English GTA school boards declared Monday a snow day. Only the French school district boards had not yet announced whether or not school would be cancelled Monday as of 8:15 p.m. on Sunday.
