Schools across the Greater Toronto Area are closed and commuters are facing transit shutdowns and delays following a record-breaking winter storm that left mountains of snow clogging driveways and streets in its wake.
Environment Canada says Pearson International Airport saw the highest daily total snowfall on record with 46 centimetres on Sunday, bringing this month's snowfall total to 88.2 centimetres. That makes it the snowiest January and snowiest month since records began in 1937.
Toronto city manager Paul Johnson said it's likely going to take a couple of days until snow is cleared all the way to the curb. He said snow removal crews will do their best to clear expressways and major roads, and that keeping transit operating is a priority.
The city has activated its second major snow event response plan of the year, which includes a parking ban on some major streets as well as streetcar routes.
The Toronto Transit Commission reported major problems on multiple transit routes Monday morning, with subway service shut down between several stations on Lines 1 and 2, and the entire Line 6 — the new Finch West LRT service — shut down. Shuttle buses were running instead, with delays due to road conditions also affecting streetcar service across the city.
Meanwhile, GO trains were running on a special schedule in the aftermath of the storm, and commuters are urged to double check the departure times.
Ontario Provincial Police said they had responded to approximately 200 collisions and another 150 calls for vehicles stuck in ditches in the greater Toronto and Hamilton areas over a 24-hour period. In one fatal incident, a driver lost control of their vehicle on a Highway 8 ramp in Kitchener and launched over the snow embankment to a highway below, Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said in a social media post.
Toronto police have also responded to numerous collisions and have urged residents to stay off the roads if possible on Monday while roads remain difficult to navigate.
Earlier this month, Mayor Olivia Chow touted the city's improved snow response plan after back-to-back storms last winter left many streets and sidewalks unplowed for days, drawing sharp criticism of city operations. She has said that a centralized response system will be in place this season to ensure faster and more efficient snow clearing.
Chow said in a social media post on Sunday that more than 600 plows were out on roads and sidewalks and more than 1,300 city staff and contractors have been mobilized. She also urged residents to help their neighbours if they're having difficulty or are stuck, and to call 311 if they need help from the city.
The Toronto District School Board, the York Catholic District School Board and the Peel District School Board were among several boards to close all of their schools on Monday.
Toronto Metropolitan University and the University of Toronto also closed all of their campuses on Monday, while York University said all in-person activities would be postponed, cancelled or delivered remotely if possible.
Flight-tracking site FlightAware said more than 600 flights were cancelled at Pearson International Airport in a 24-hour span, and the airport was warning of further delays on Monday as cleanup continued.
The airport also said in a social media post that flights to and from Atlantic Canada and certain parts of the United States may be affected due to weather.
Travellers are advised to check directly with their airline before coming to the airport and give themselves plenty of time to get there.
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
