Amid heavy snowfall in the Greater Toronto Area on Sunday, various municipal services were affected by the worsening weather conditions. Environment Canada issued a severe orange weather warning, predicting snow accumulation of up to 60 centimeters, especially in southern areas of Toronto and Mississauga. Snowfall rates were expected to reach five to 10 centimeters per hour, with a total accumulation of 30 to 50 centimeters. Residents were cautioned about hazardous travel conditions, including potential near-zero visibility.
Before the storm hit on Sunday, Toronto had already received 105 centimeters of snow this winter, nearly double the seasonal average up to January. Environment Canada climatologist David Phillips noted that Toronto and the GTA were likely to experience the most snowfall in Canada that day.
Public transit services faced disruptions, with several TTC bus stops closed to prevent buses from getting stuck in heavy snow. Line 2 experienced temporary shutdowns due to switch issues and weather conditions. Pearson International Airport reported significant flight cancellations, with about 65% of departing flights and 64% of arriving flights affected.
Toronto declared a significant weather event and activated its major snow event response plan, leading to enhanced snow clearing efforts. The city urged residents to stay off roads and allow crews space to work safely. All English GTA school boards called a snow day for Monday, while various city services, including libraries and recreational programs, were suspended.
Mississauga imposed a citywide parking restriction to facilitate snow clearing, while Vaughan requested residents to help clear blocked catch basins and fire hydrants. Community centers in Vaughan remained open, but some libraries closed due to the extreme weather conditions.
