Spring may be just a few weeks away but the winter weather is not giving up without a fight as Toronto is yet again being blanketed with heavy snow and extreme cold temperatures on Wednesday.
A snowfall warning is in effect for much of the Greater Toronto Area as between 10 and 15 centimetres of accumulation is expected by the evening hours.
However by 4 p.m., 15 centimetres had already hit the ground and the storm showed no signs of letting up.
“Snow should ease up by 7 p.m. in Toronto and most of the GTA with snow totals near 20 centimetres, or even higher amounts locally,” Global News Meteorologist Ross Hull said.
Hull said the storm breaks the daily snowfall record for Feb. 27, which was back in 2013 when 12.4 centimetres fell.
The City of Toronto is also under an extreme cold weather alert as the overnight low will drop to -14 C or -18 C with the wind chill.
“This snow with this system is not only being enhanced by Lake Ontario but by the cold air a loft and at the surface. It’s what’s called high snow to liquid ratio snow – meaning it’s fluffy and easier to shovel but the downside is it can blow around effortlessly,” Hull said.
WATCH BELOW: The Greater Toronto Area is seeing multiple bus cancellations and school closures Wednesday
“Crews should have a chance to clear some of the accumulated snow ahead of the late afternoon and evening commute but side roads will likely be more difficult to navigate.”
A number of school boards cancelled classes for the day in anticipation of deteriorating road conditions. School bus service was also cancelled in York Region, Mississauga, Durham, Oakville and Milton.
Some Toronto-area colleges have also cancelled classes and closed campuses Wednesday afternoon due to the storm.
Motorists are reminded to give themselves extra time to reach their destination.
Meanwhile, Toronto officials say they are prepared for the storm and have crews and equipment operating for the duration of the day.
“We will have 1,100 pieces of equipment working and that’s all hands on deck for us. So we’ll have 200 salt trucks, 300 sidewalk plows and 600 road plows deployed,” said Mark Mills, superintendent of transportation services.
“Please exercise some patience. We are there to help. We’ll get these roads in a good state of repair. Unfortunately this season, it seems to be our storms are happening p.m. or a.m. rush hours. So please give yourself extra time.”
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