A massive winter storm paralyzed the Greater Toronto Area on Thursday, resulting in hundreds of highway crashes, school closures, and transit delays.
A snowfall warning was in effect for the region for most of the day, advising that up to 40 centimetres of snow was possible.
That advisory has since been lifted for Toronto and the neighbouring area, with the snow tapering off as the storm moved east.
However, the GTA could see additional dumping of snow on Friday.4:45 p.m. – Toronto declares major snowstorm event
Toronto is declaring a major snowstorm condition and significant weather event effective 5 p.m., as cleanup begins across the city.
Spokesperson Russell Baker tells CP24 the declaration will result in some bylaws coming into effect to keep the city moving. As of 5 p.m., parking on roads designated as snow routes will be prohibited.
Vehicles caught parked on snow routes will be towed, and fines could be issued.
The declarations will also allow the city, as needed and based on conditions, to remove snow to designated storage sites in areas that have capacity issues.
– Bryann Aguilar, CP24 and CTV News Toronto digital journalist
4:25 p.m. – 20cm+ of snow fell at Pearson
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) says conditions are improving at Toronto Pearson Airport, where more than 20 centimetres of snow fell.
“Our crews continue to make loops of the airfield to remove snow from runways, taxiways, and aprons so aircraft can safely arrive and depart. Passengers are advised to check their flight status before coming to the airport, as some arriving and departing flights continue to be impacted,” the GTAA said.
– Bryann Aguilar, CP24 and CTV News Toronto digital journalist
4:17 p.m. – Multiple highway closures
Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt says a driver is in the hospital with critical injuries after a rear-end collision between a car and a tractor-trailer on Highway 400 near Finch Avenue.
There is no estimated time when the southbound lanes of the highway will reopen.
“This is the first closure of a main thoroughfare of the highway. We’ve had lane restrictions in different areas down the QEW, 401 in different areas. We’ve had multiple ramps blocked in Warden, Markham, across the 407; all those ramps were closed,” Schmidt said.
“The 410, we had problems up on the west end toward Brampton and Mississauga and then all the way down to Burlington. So lots of ramp closures. Again, cars just getting stuck. Some of those plows haven’t cleared the ramps and the vehicles, they get stuck on these snow drifts.”
– Bryann Aguilar, CP24 and CTV News Toronto digital journalist
3:30 p.m. – Orange warning no longer in effect for most of GTA
An orange snowfall warning that was in effect for Toronto throughout most of the day has been lifted by Environment Canada.
Orange snowfall warnings remain in effect for southern Durham Region and northern Niagara Region. A yellow snowfall warning is in effect for northern Durham Region.
– Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto
3:16 p.m. – QEW lanes closed in Hamilton after multi-vehicle crash
Ontario Provincial Police say the QEW Fort Erie-bound is closed in two left lanes at Centennial Parkway in Hamilton following a multi-vehicle collision involving a transport truck and passenger vehicles.
Injuries are being assessed, and motorists are warned to expect traffic slowdowns in the area.
– Jermaine Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
3:15 p.m. – More snow on the way tomorrow
The snow has started to taper off in most parts of the GTA but Toronto could be in for another blast of winter weather on Friday.
CTV News Toronto Weather Anchor Lyndsay Morrison says that the GTA is likely to see an additional five to seven centimetres of snow on Friday as another system moves in, with the potential for a few more centimetres over the weekend.
“Not as impactful as today’s storm but certainly adding to the snowfall amounts out there,” Morrison says.
Morrison adds that the snowfall on Friday will likely begin in the late morning hours and continue through the afternoon and into the evening hours.
– Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto
2:24 p.m. – VIA Rail train strikes snowplow
GO Transit is reporting that a train has struck a snowplow on the Lakeshore East line between Eglinton GO and Guildwood GO stations.
It’s unclear what time this incident occured but the agency says it is working with emergency personnel to move trains through the area, but riders should expect delays, service modifications, and possible cancellations as crews deal with the incident and restore service.
Toronto police says there are no injuries but as a result, Scarborough Golf Club Road is closed between Dale Avenue and Confederation Drive.
In an email to CP24, Metrolinx officials confirm that it was a VIA Rail train.
– Jermaine Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
2:20 p.m. – Nearly one quarter of flights at Pearson cancelled
As of 2 p.m. Pearson said about 23 per cent of all arrivals and departures have been cancelled.
There were 481 flights set to depart the airport today and 480 set to arrive.
About 19 per cent of departing flights have been delayed and about 35 per cent of arrivals have been delayed, the airport noted.
– Codi Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
2:16 p.m. – Highway 400 southbound closed at Finch after crash
OPP officials say Highway 400 southbound is now fully closed at Finch Avenue in North York following a collision involving a transport truck and a car.
Police say one person has been taken to hospital with unconfirmed injuries, and warn the closure is expected to be lengthy.
Drivers are being urged to plan alternate routes and avoid the area if possible.
– Jermaine Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
2 p.m. – Toronto Public Library branches to close early
Toronto Public Library says all branches will close early at 5 p.m. today due to the ongoing winter storm.
The library system says the decision was made because of deteriorating weather and travel conditions across the city.
– Jermaine Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
1:52 p.m. – Conditions ‘unbelievable’
OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt says that while there have been approximately 200 collisions on GTA roads, there are no serious injuries to report as of Thursday afternoon.
Schmidt, however, said that drivers should use extreme caution if they need to head out and avoid leaving their homes entirely if possible.
“It is unbelievable, it is crazy, it is a mess. Cars are slipping and sliding everywhere. Even me I am having trouble getting where I am going sometimes,” Schmidt told CP24. “Even at a slight grade vehicles will have trouble with traction, even with all wheel drive and winter tires.”
– Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto
1:48 p.m. – Dozens of TTC bus stops taken out of service due to storm
The TTC says dozens of bus stops remain out of service across the city as crews work to clear snow and make conditions safe for riders.
Earlier in the day, the transit agency confirmed that as many as 48 stops were not in service. TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said the move was made proactively ahead of the storm.
“We actually took those out of service this morning in anticipation. The fortunate thing about this storm is that it happened overnight, so it allowed us to get ahead of some of this. We take those stops out of service proactively,” Green said.
Green said the stops will remain closed until it is safe to reopen them. “They stay out of service until it’s safe for us to put them back in service. And we know that we can confidently get busses moving again once they make those stops.”
– Jermaine Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
1:25 p.m.- Snowstorm a ‘tough one’ to predict
Monica Vaswani, warning preparedness meteorologist for Environment Canada, says this snowstorm has been a “particularly tough one to forecast.”
“Over the last couple of days, models have been flip-flopping and they weren’t really sure about what was going to happen and they really started to paint a grim picture for today only yesterday. And that’s when we started to issue those warnings,” she told CP24 on Thursday afternoon.“This is not your run-of-the-mill snowstorm. This is something that could last, at least in terms of impacts, a series of days, not just one day.”
– Codi Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
1:20 p.m. – Drivers should still use caution on DVP: police
Police say that while the DVP has reopened, there could still be hazardous conditions on some parts of the highway and drivers are being urged to use caution.
“This is earlier but there were vehicles that slid off into the ditch, there were vehicles that were on the highway itself that were just stuck in the snow and there was at least one vehicle that ran out of fuel, causing that vehicle to be stalled,” Const. Viktor Sarudi told CP24 on Thursday afternoon.
The DVP was closed for most of Thursday morning to allow for plows to clear the roadway.
Sarudi said that the highway reopened over the noon hour but there are still some “slippery spots.”
“Just because the plows have done their job and the roads are open you still have to exercise caution when out there,” he said.
– Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto
1:15 p.m. – Up to 40 cm expected
Environment Canada has increased its snowfall forecast yet again, now warning that some parts of the GTA could see up to 40 centimetres of snow from the ongoing winter storm.
The agency says heavy snow and blowing snow will continue to make travel difficult and is urging residents to avoid non-essential trips and allow extra time if they must be on the roads.
– Jermaine Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
1:10 p.m. – ‘We’re not finished yet’
Environment Canada’s senior climatologist says winter disappeared in December but January has given the city a ‘nasty’ blast and there’s a lot more snow ahead.Environment Canada’s senior climatologist says winter disappeared in December but January has given the city a ‘nasty’ blast and there’s a lot more snow ahead.
– Jermaine Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
1:05: p.m. – Finch West LRT facing a ‘series of issues’
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow was asked about the performance of the newly-opened Finch West LRT, which was forced to shutdown Thursday due to the snowfall, but deferred to Metrolinx, the Crown corporation that built the line.
“I do not want to speak on behalf of Metrolinx, because this is not the level of government that controls and manages Metrolinx. So, I’ll let them speak for themselves,” she said at a news conference on the city’s snow-clearing operations.
The TTC’s Josh Colle, who spoke alongside Chow, said there are “a series of issues” with the line that have presented themselves amid the storm.
Shuttle busses are running along the length of the route during the closure. The Finch West line officially opened in early December.
– Phil Tsekouras, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
12:38 p.m. – DVP reopens in both directions after storm closures
Toronto police say the Don Valley Parkway has now reopened in both directions after being closed for much of the day due to collisions and dangerous driving conditions.
Police say both the southbound and northbound lanes of the DVP are now open, but are urging drivers to continue using caution as winter road conditions persist across the city.
In a statement posted to X, Mayor Olivia Chow added:
“The DVP has reopened following collisions and other issues. And plows are running. Police had closed it for safety reasons this morning. Please be safe if you’re travelling on highways today.”
– Jermaine Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
12:12 p.m. – Some parents not emailed about school closure: TDSB
The TDSB says that a “technical issue” resulted in a delay in an email notification sent to parents informing them of the closure of all schools this morning. The TDSB says that some families may not have received the email at all, despite it being sent out shortly after 6 a.m. in line with board policy.
“We understand how important timely communication is, especially during weather-related events and school closures, and we regret any inconvenience this may have caused. Please be assured that we are working to identify and resolve this issue moving forward,” a letter from the board states.
– Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto
12:08 p.m. – More than 200 collisions: OPP
The Ontario Provincial Police say approximately 200 collisions and 125 vehicles stuck in snowbanks or ditches have been reported across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area in the past 24 hours.
Officers are urging drivers to stay off the roads if possible and to exercise extreme caution when travelling in the winter storm conditions.
– Jermaine Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
12 p.m. – DVP southbound reopens past Eglinton as plows make progress
CP24’s Traffic Specialist Lisa Morales reports that traffic on the Don Valley Parkway southbound can now move past Eglinton Avenue as snowplows begin clearing the roadway.
Motorists are still advised to drive with caution, as hazardous conditions persist in areas not yet cleared.
– Jermaine Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
11:41 a.m. – Delays on several GO transit lines
In an update to CP24, Metrolinx says riders should expect delays of 10–20 minutes on the Kitchener, Stouffville, and Lakeshore West lines, while the rest of the rail network is running as scheduled.
The agency adds that some residual bus delays remain, but service is improving as weather conditions ease.
Customers are encouraged to check the Metrolinx website for the latest updates before travelling.
– Jermaine Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
11:25 a.m. – Icy collector, express ramps causing severe backup
CP24’s Traffic Specialist Lisa Morales has been monitoring the situation on the roads all morning.
MTO officials say that the ramps on the 401 to the 404 are a “sheet of ice,” which is causing the traffic to back up because motorists can’t safely travel through. However, there is still access to the DVP from the 401 — no closures, but conditions remain hazardous.Parts of the DVP have reopened, but access remains limited due to snow and dangerous black ice. Southbound lanes are still being forced off at Eglinton Avenue.
– Jermaine Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
11:16 a.m. – Plows making multiple trips
City of Toronto spokesperson Russel Baker says in addition to the 1,300 city staff deployed, some plows have been out two if not three times already.
He says that the city is also actively deploying staff from other divisions to “help ensure that snow plowing efforts continue.”
“In many pockets plows have already been out two if not three times and not only are they plowing the road; they are also salting the roads,” he told CP24.
“We know when the temperatures drop down like they have today salt is less effective but really the best way to get out there and clear the roads is to indeed plow and salt at the same time so many of our vehicles are equipped to plow and salt at same time.”
– Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24 and CTV News Toronto
10:55 a.m. – Lighter snow expected on Friday
CTV Toronto’s weather specialist Lyndsay Morrison says the snow is expected to taper off this afternoon, but another few centimetres are possible, bringing totals across the region to 20–35 cm.
“This is our most significant snow of the season so far. Previously we had picked up 12 cm of snow on Boxing Day,” she wrote in a statement.
She warns that while the afternoon commute may not be as severe as the morning, weather impacts will continue, with another round of light snow expected Friday
– Jermaine Wilson, Multi-Platform Writer for CTV News Toronto & CP24
10:50 a.m. – Avoid DVP entirely: Police
Toronto police are now warning drivers to stay away from the entire Don Valley Parkway. The highway was initially closed south of Eglinton Avenue due to hazardous conditions but police now say that they believe traffic is being prevented from accessing the highway at Highway 401 as well.
There is currently no timeline for the reopening of the highway.
“Just to be safe what I would suggest to anyone is avoid the entire stretch of the Don Valley Parkway until you see that we have posted that it is open. I would avoid right from the 401 to where it turns into the Gardiner. That is the area where we are seeing some concern with the ice and several vehicles have spun out and are in the ditch,” Const. Viktor Sarudi told CP24.
