A powerful winter storm making its way out of the U.S. northeast arrived in the GTA Wednesday evening, blanketing the city and surrounding communities with their first real taste of the white stuff this season.
And, for some areas, this is just the beginning.
“Although southern Ontario will be on the northern portion of the large snow area associated with the storm, significant snowfall amounts are expected for a good portion of the region,” Environment Canada advised Wednesday afternoon.
CP24 meteorologist Chris Potter said the GTA is likely to see anywhere from 10 to 15 centimetres of snow between Wednesday night and mid-morning Thursday, as a special weather statement issued for the area Monday remains in effect.
The heaviest snowfall is expected to occur over Dunnville and Niagara, and from Kingston to Cornwall, areas where a winter storm warning is in effect. Those areas could potentially see more than 20 cm of snowfall. Areas from Windsor to Simcoe and Hamilton, and from Cobourg to Smiths Falls and Ottawa are expected to see 10 to 15 cm.
While warmer temperatures have persisted lately, it appears they won’t be high enough to put off the region’s first bout of serious winter weather this season.
“(Today) was cold and windy, both signs that the system will be strong,” CP24 meteorologist Bill Coulter said Wednesday afternoon. “Even though it will rise to minus two as the storm moves in, it’s not going to be warm enough to bring anything but snow.”
Heavy snowfall was already reported in London, Ont. by around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Drivers urged to be cautious
With many drivers in southern Ontario having not seen significant snowfall in some time, motorists are being urged to use extra caution on the roads, leaving extra time to get to destinations and keeping in mind that road surfaces may be slippery.
“Most of the crashes that we’re going to see are completely preventable,” said Brian Patterson, president of the Ontario Safety League, in an interview with CP24. “Make sure you’ve got a scraper so you can see all around your vehicle and clear the snow - don’t just clear a little patch on the front (of the windshield).”
With most of the snow expected to fall overnight, GTA municipalities are also busy gearing up to salt and plow roads and sidewalks.
Flights cancelled
Pearson International Airport said Wednesday that dozens of flights had already been cancelled. Some 76 departing flights -- roughly 11 per cent of the daily total – had been cancelled by mid-afternoon Wednesday.
Air Canada advised that flights to and from London, Ont., Windsor and Cleveland on Wednesday may be delayed or cancelled. They said affected customers would be able to change their flights without penalty. The airline issued a similar warning for flights scheduled for Thursday to and from Ottawa, Montreal and Cleveland.
“Impacts will be significant for travellers. It is a widespread event and many regions have not experienced a significant snow event for some time,” Environment Canada said in its release. “The falling snow combined with northeast winds to 50 or 60 kilometres per hour will create fairly widespread blowing snow and poor visibilities.”
Travellers flying to and from Toronto are also being advised to check their flight status online before departing for the airport.
For the latest flight status information, click here.
Storm wreaks havoc in U.S.
Even before touching Ontario, the powerful storm was already being blamed for six deaths across three states in the U.S. All were either traffic related or the result of falling trees.
Hundreds of U.S. flights in the storm path were also cancelled Wednesday, stranding some travellers.
@Josh_F is on Twitter. Remember for instant breaking news follow @cp24 on Twitter.
