A significant weather event is anticipated to occur following prolonged freezing rain in Toronto, as warned by Environment Canada. The federal weather agency issued a special weather statement indicating that the freezing rain experienced throughout the day is projected to transition into heavy snow, potentially causing reduced visibility on Tuesday night. Environment Canada mentioned the likelihood of two to five centimeters of snow falling per hour in certain regions, leading to challenging navigation on roads and walkways due to accumulating snow and reduced visibility at times.
Earlier in the day, Toronto was under a freezing rain warning, with Environment Canada forecasting an accumulation of one to five millimeters of ice on various surfaces. The warning, classified as yellow under the new color-coded system introduced by the agency, was lifted by 10:30 p.m. Drivers were advised to adjust their driving behavior based on the weather conditions, including reducing speed, maintaining extra space between vehicles, and refraining from using cruise control on wet, snowy, and icy roads.
According to Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), drivers were urged to activate their full lighting system while on the road to ensure illuminated tail lights. Environment Canada meteorologist Alyssa Young mentioned that heavy winds are not expected, reducing the likelihood of power line and tree damage due to ice buildup. Areas along the Lake Ontario shoreline were anticipated to experience minimal ice buildup, while areas north and east of Toronto, such as North York, Durham, and Peterborough, were expected to have the most ice accumulation.
The City of Vaughan declared a significant weather event, warning residents of potential delays in road, sidewalk, and cycle lane clearing due to ice buildup. In Markham, preparations were made to address icy conditions promptly, with residents advised to stay indoors and cancel non-essential appointments. The inclement weather led to multiple school bus delays and cancellations across the Greater Toronto Area.
Despite the snowfall warning lifted on Monday, Environment Canada emphasized the expectation of up to 10 centimeters of snow. The city took proactive measures by salting roads and continued salting operations on Tuesday to ensure safe access on emergency, major, transit, and residential routes. Additionally, warming centers were opened to provide shelter, meals, and restroom facilities during the snowfall and will remain operational on Tuesday at the following locations:
– 136 Spadina Rd.
– 81 Elizabeth St.
– 12 Holmes Ave.
– 885 Scarborough Golf Club Rd.
– 349 George St.
