A powerful winter storm has brought the Greater Toronto Area to a near standstill, dumping heavy snow, triggering widespread crashes, and forcing the closure of key transportation routes. Up to 35 centimetres of snow is expected before conditions improve later today.
The Don Valley Parkway remains closed in both directions after a series of collisions linked to black ice and poor visibility. Provincial highways across the region are also facing severe disruptions as emergency crews respond to an escalating number of incidents.
Schools across the GTA are closed as conditions worsen. Environment Canada has issued an Orange snowfall warning and urges drivers to prepare for fast-changing and dangerous travel conditions. The national weather agency expects snowfall to taper off by mid-afternoon, with the system forecast to move out of the region by around 2 p.m.
Environment Canada warns travel will remain hazardous through the morning and into the early afternoon. Wind gusts reaching 50 kilometres per hour are creating blowing snow and whiteout conditions in exposed areas, increasing the risk of collisions during peak commute hours.
Ontario Provincial Police report roughly 150 crashes across the GTA over the past 24 hours, including about 30 incidents since early morning. More than 100 calls involved vehicles stuck in ditches or trapped by deep snow.
OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt says Highway 400 near Major Mackenzie Drive has seen multiple stalled vehicles within short stretches. Similar scenes continue to unfold along other 400-series highways.
“There are so many cars going through these big windrows, not realizing how deep that snow is. They have snow tires, all-wheel drive and think they can tackle winter until they hit a two-foot snow bank and there is nothing you can do to get out of that,” Schmidt says. “They don’t realize how deep it is until they get stuck and then they are done.”
Toronto Pearson International Airport has recorded 12 centimetres of snowfall as of 9 a.m. Airport officials say traffic management initiatives remain in place to support safe aircraft arrivals and departures. Crews continue active snow-clearing operations across the airfield.
Travellers are urged to check flight status directly with airlines and allow extra travel time to reach the airport.
Authorities continue to advise avoiding non-essential travel until conditions stabilize later today.
