Toronto digs out from biggest winter storm in more than three years as more snow on the way

Residents across the Greater Toronto Area were digging out Thursday following a winter storm that dumped up to more than 25 centimetres of snow, resulting in school closures and travel delays.

According to Environment Canada, up to 26 centimetres of snow fell at Toronto Pearson International Airport between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, while downtown Toronto saw 21 centimetres.

It is the largest single snowfall recorded in Toronto since Jan. 2022.

IN PICTURES: Ontario’s biggest winter storm of the season

Most schools across the region were closed due to the snow. Both GO Transit and the TTC had to adjust their services in the aftermath of the storm. Some flights at the airport were cancelled.

Meanwhile, police services responded to hundreds of collisions and stranded vehicles in the past 24 hours.

The weather also prompted Canada Post to suspend mail delivery in the province.

The City of Toronto has said plowing will continue into Friday due to the significant accumulation. Officials and police are reminding residents that parking on snow routes remains prohibited as the cleanup continues.

“This is going to be an activation that will continue throughout the next two days,” Vincent Sferrazza, the city’s director of transportation services, said.

While the snow has tapered off, the GTA could see more this weekend.

Environment Canada says it will be a mix of sun and cloud on Friday, with periods of light snow beginning near midnight. Snow is in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday, with daytime highs of -2 C.

Here’s how the winter storm cleanup unfolded on Thursday:

5 p.m.

The TTC and GO Transit are still reporting some delays, especially on their bus routes, that could impact your afternoon commute.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) also continue to deal with some collisions, including one that has closed almost all westbound lanes on Highway 401 between Hurontario Street and Highway 410.

OPP say they responded to over 100 collisions and over 125 stranded vehicles in the GTA in the past 24 hours.

For everything you need to know for your commute home, click here.

3 p.m.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has released snowfall amounts for the Toronto area after the storm.

Official ECCC observation sites calculated that Toronto Pearson Airport saw 26 cm of snow while downtown Toronto saw 21 cm.

ECCC also said volunteer observations calculated totals of 26 cm in Etobicoke, 23 cm in Scarborough, 21 cm in Mississauga, 20 cm in both North York and Burlington, 19 cm in Woodbridge, and 18 cm in Whitby.

2:30 p.m.

The City of Toronto says warming centres remain open during the “major snow condition.”

The centres located at 136 Spadina Rd., 55 John St. (Metro Hall), 75 Elizabeth St., 12 Holmes Ave., and 885 Scarborough Golf Club Rd provide a place for people to rest, access meals, washroom facilities, and referrals to emergency shelter.

The city says it has also opened temporary contingency spaces across the shelter system in areas not traditionally used for sleeping.

A number of city-funded daytime drop-in programs are also available with extended hours.

1:45 p.m.

CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter says that the last time the city saw more than 26 centimetres of snow as a result of a single storm was on Jan. 17, 2022 (28.8 cm). That would make this the biggest snowstorm Toronto has seen in more than three years.

• READ MORE: What you need to know about getting around the city following a major winter storm
• LATEST FORECAST: A closer look at the hour-by-hour conditions in the GTA.
• IN PHOTOS: Toronto’s biggest winter storm in the last three years

1:35 p.m.

Toronto Police have confirmed since 6 p.m. last night, they have responded to over 100 collisions and weather related accidents.

With snow continuing over the weekend, they are asking for drivers to “please drive carefully” and “help keep roads safe.”

1:22 p.m.

The City of Mississauga issued a statement for residents looking to access community centres and cultural facilities.

In a post to X, they say, “Community Centres & cultural facilities will reopen at 4 p.m with all programs and bookings resuming. Libraries will open at 5 p.m with all regular programming.

They have also lifted their “Significant Weather Event Declaration” and are calling on drivers to “remove parked cars from roads.”

Officials also note that “temporary parking permits remain suspended until further notice.”

12:15 p.m.

Pearson Airport is warning of long lines at security screening checkpoints in Terminals 1 and 3 due to “staffing challenges.” The airport says 45 to 55-minute wait times are being reported for U.S. destinations.

12:05 p.m.

Canada Post says it will be suspending mail delivery across Ontario today due to a winter storm that has blanketed the province in snow.

12 p.m.

The city says all Toronto Public Library branches will be open today as of 12:30 p.m.

“All indoor recreation programs at the City’s community centres, pools and arenas, including registered programs, drop-in swimming, fitness centres, sports, walking tracks and permitted activities resumed as of 9 a.m. today,” the city said in an updated statement on Thursday afternoon.

11 a.m.

The Ministry of Transportation said crews continue to clear highways after last night’s snowfall.

“We encourage all drivers to drive according to the conditions and allow extra time for travel,” the statement read. “Ontario 511 is available to all drivers across the province and includes up-to-date highway information."

10:47 a.m.

Toronto police put out a statement clarifying that parking continues to be illegal on posted snow routes.

“Major Snowstorm Conditions are no longer timebound to the 72-hour window; it now stays in effect until lifted by the City of Toronto,” the press release reads.

Mary Nersessian, CTV News

10 a.m.

Uber Canada says it has capped surge pricing and offered additional incentives to drivers during the storm cleanup.

“Drivers are encouraged to be careful and only go online if they feel safe to do so. Riders should listen to local officials regarding any travel advisories,” a spokesperson for Uber Canada said in an email to CTV News Toronto.

In a statement, George Wedge, the president of the Ontario Rideshare Drivers Association, said drivers are being advised to “be patient.”

“Road conditions are still dangerous,” the statement, sent to CTV News Toronto, read. He added that many streets are still inaccessible. “Don’t risk getting stuck.”

9:30 a.m.

Toronto Hydro confirms there are no outages as a result of the winter storm.

9 a.m.

Pearson released a timelapse video of snow-clearing efforts on Thursday morning, saying more than 100 pieces of specialized equipment were used overnight to remove snow at the airport. Officials said more snow fell in the last 24 hours at the airport than in the entire month of January.

• Send your snow photos and videos to CTV News Toronto. Text 10400. Standard message and data rates apply

CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter confirms at least 26 cm of snow has fallen at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

8:30 a.m.

Environment Canada has now lifted a snowfall warning for Toronto but local blowing snow could still hamper the afternoon commute.

8:15 a.m.

Officials at Metrolinx tell CTV News that GO Transit is continues to run on a “special schedule” today, meaning that some GO Train trips have been cancelled.

“Currently, GO buses are impacted most by the winter weather delays, particularly for west routes operating in the Kitchener, Milton, Georgetown and Hamilton areas,” officials wrote in a statement.

“In most cases the delays are minor, sitting around 15 minutes or less, however some trips have been cancelled due to stops out of service as a result of municipal road conditions.”

According to Metrolinx, passenger volumes are “quite light” this morning, adding that a majority of trains are still on schedule. To check on live updates, customers are encouraged to visit the GO Transit website and “take extra time” to get where they need to go, officials said.

8:10 a.m.

In an email to CTV News Toronto, the TTC confirm 56 stops are currently not in service, but emphasize that number will “reduce” as roads continue to be plowed. Officials also say most Express Network buses have been converted to local bus services, such as the 925 Don Mills operating as the 25 Don Mills. The TTC says this is being done to “ensure all buses are serving all available stops.” Only the 900 Airport Express and 927 Highway 27 Express will continue to operate as an express service.

8 a.m.

The City of Toronto says plowing will continue “into Friday” due to heavy accumulation. Parking on snow routes is prohibited to allow snow plow operators to due their work.

Vincent Sferrazza, the city’s director of transportation services, said Thursday morning that more than 700 tickets have been issued to drivers who have disregarded the rules and parked along snow routes.

Sferrazza said all 1,400 pieces of winter equipment are out on city streets as the city works to clear highways, roads, bike lanes, and sidewalks.

“This is going to be an activation that will continue throughout the next two days,” Sferrazza said. “We are expecting another storm to come in on Saturday and we will be continuing then as well.”

Snow removal to designated dump sites likely won’t begin until early next week, he noted.

7:10 a.m.

The TTC says there is no streetcar service westbound from College Street at Lansdowne Avenue to the High Park Loop following a “streetcar derailment.” Shuttle buses are running.

7 a.m.

The City of Hamilton has lifted their “Significant Weather Event declaration,” effective as of 7 a.m.

Officials say, “with the end of the declaration, the 24-hour clock to complete clean up from this current storm is now active.”

Residents can track their neighbourhood snowplow here.

Additionally, CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter says at least 23 cm of snow has fallen at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

6:30 a.m.

The City of Toronto will be providing an update at 8 a.m. on its response to the winter storm.

6:15 a.m.

The Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board have confirmed that all schools will be closed today due to the snowstorm.

6 a.m.

The TTC says customers will experience “significant delays” across the streetcar network this morning due to “weather and mechanical related issues.”

5:45 a.m.

School boards across the GTA have cancelled student transportation and some have closed schools amid the winter storm.

5:30 a.m.

OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said traffic is starting to build on GTA highways this morning.

“Please, if you don’t need to be out there, let the system pass, and let the plows do their work,” he said.

“We don’t have a lot of crashes going on. What we do have is a lot of cars slipping and sliding, getting stuck on on-ramps, off-ramps and just on snow banks themselves.”

5 a.m.

CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter said Pearson has registered about 21 cm of snowfall and more is on the way.

The snow is expected to continue, bringing potentially another three to five centimetres, before tapering off by 8 a.m.

“While we catch a break from 8 a.m. to noon, strong winds will develop this afternoon and evening, gusting 50 to 60 km/h, creating blowing and drifting snow conditions,” Coulter said on Thursday morning.