A quiet, snow-dusted awakening greeted Toronto residents Sunday morning, a delicate layer blanketing lawns and streets. But this gentle scene masks a far more dramatic weather story unfolding across the province.
While the Greater Toronto Area appears to have dodged a major blow, southern Ontario braced for significantly heavier snowfall, with warnings remaining in effect throughout the weekend. The storm’s intensity shifted, sparing the city while intensifying elsewhere.
Toronto, Mississauga, and Brampton anticipated two to four centimetres of snow, accompanied by fierce wind gusts reaching up to 70 km/h. Further east, Markham and Durham Region faced the possibility of two to five centimetres, with higher elevations north of Lake Ontario potentially receiving five centimetres or more.
Markham and Durham Region were placed under a yellow snowfall warning, part of a newly implemented colour-coded alert system. These yellow alerts signal hazardous weather capable of causing disruption and impacting public health.
The warnings extended far beyond the immediate Toronto area, stretching from Sault Ste. Marie eastward to Chalk River, and southward to Walpole Island on Lake St. Clair. This expansive region was forecast to receive a substantial accumulation of five to 20 centimetres of snow.
Travel was expected to become increasingly difficult in areas under snowfall warnings, as reduced visibility posed a significant hazard. Drivers were urged to exercise extreme caution and prepare for challenging conditions.
The current storm followed a week of persistent snowfall, already leaving a considerable mark on the landscape. Areas near Lake Huron had accumulated nearly 60 centimetres, while regions west of Kitchener reported around 30 centimetres.
Fortunately, the heaviest snowfall was predicted to transition to flurries across most areas later Sunday, offering a glimmer of relief as the storm began to subside. The intensity would lessen, but the impact of the weekend’s weather would linger.
