Photos: Major Ontario cities, GTA get a snow day as 20+ cm blankets region
A [high-impact winter storm](https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/weather/forecasts/closures-rack-up-as-ontario-is-hit-with-20-cm-of-snow) swept through southern Ontario on Wednesday night, leaving many communities, including Ottawa and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), digging out of at least 10-20+ cm of snow on Thursday morning. For several areas, this is the [biggest snowfall of the season](https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/weather/forecasts/february-2025-outlook-la-nina-polar-vortex-delay-spring-canada) to date.
A Texas low swept into the province on Wednesday, pulling in warm, moist air that clashed with the cold Arctic air sitting over the Prairies and northern Ontario.
Snowfall rates reached 2-4 cm/h through the overnight Wednesday, resulting in a messy situation Thursday morning.
Toronto Pearson International Airport reported 27 cm of snow by 8 a.m. ET on Thursday morning—the largest two-day snowfall event to impact the GTA since 2022. Meanwhile, 25 cm was reported in Ottawa on Thursday morning, with more to come into the afternoon.
Areas where the warmer air was able to beat the cold air saw freezing rain fall overnight, limiting snow totals but creating slick and dangerous roadway conditions on Thursday. The Niagara Region bore the brunt of the freezing rain Wednesday night, resulting in almost 3,000 Niagara Peninsula Energy customers to lose power.
DON'T MISS:
Many school boards have announced full closures on Thursday morning, including the Peel District School Board and Toronto District School Board.
All PDSB schools and offices/facilities are closed to students and staff today due to winter weather conditions. All buses cancelled.Closure of the schools includes cancellations of all activities located in the schools, including childcare, night school and permits. pic.twitter.com/o8tOt3AhIA
— Peel District School Board (@PeelSchools) February 13, 2025
All TDSB schools and sites are closed today due to the weather forecast. In addition, Friday, February 14, is PA Day for all students, and Monday, February 17, is Family Day. Enjoy your first #SnowDay of the year, and we'll see you on Tuesday! pic.twitter.com/nTsz1xiDCn
— Toronto District School Board (@tdsb) February 13, 2025
Widespread flight delays and cancellations across Ontario and Quebec were also reported on Thursday, with the delays expected to last through the day.
Major highways throughout the region also became incredibly slick due to the snow, resulting in many vehicles and transports getting stuck in ditches along Highway 401. Drivers were urged to stay off the roads if possible until roads and highways can be cleared.
Vehicle on the shoulder stuck in the snow #Hwy401/427. plowing operations ongoing. #OnStorm. ^ks pic.twitter.com/nnFUCDvlOp
— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) February 13, 2025
The plows are working to clear the roads, the snow continues to fall. Please help the snow clearing operations by staying off the roads. #OnStorm ^ks pic.twitter.com/taq7wefJ5O
— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) February 13, 2025
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) also experienced delays as buses became stuck in the snow.
Thankfully, the snow is expected to ease across the region by the afternoon, although cleanup will likely take a while yet.
See below for visuals posted to social media showcasing the impacts of this event across Ontario.
I am out for my morning walk. In this video, you can hear the snow hitting my jacket! #onstorm #ottawa pic.twitter.com/ngj3yXUjRv
— Sue 🇨🇦 (@Sue_HBS) February 13, 2025
I am out on my morning walk in Ottawa. This is the sidewalk in front of my house. It has been plowed but the snow is piling up again. #onstorm pic.twitter.com/6s9UtYIZRa
— Sue 🇨🇦 (@Sue_HBS) February 13, 2025
Too much snow for Icecapp #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/38XitmuFWb
— Sandeep Saini (@journeyvialens) February 13, 2025
SEE ALSO:
And the Aftermath of snowstorm. I couldn't see Lake Ontario, CN Tower, or absolute towers, which are generally visible from my balcony. #ONStorm #Toronto #snowstorm pic.twitter.com/wlrEMNwofj
— Sachin Mandot (@SachinMandot) February 13, 2025
#ONStorm #WeatherUpdate #snow #Toronto pic.twitter.com/OV8DbjDFr4
— Sheriff Rao (@raosheriff) February 13, 2025
#ONStorm @IWeatherON @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/8wfFAyWhqB
— jchawla (@jchawla55) February 13, 2025
Today is the first #snowdaytoronto #ONStorm last night and this morning pic.twitter.com/3eNNdA28JT
— Unplugged Gameboy (bluesky as well!) (@RetroRelapstic) February 13, 2025
RELATED:
Looks about 16 cm in Guelph. Monster for scale. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/cQDaTqEOKV
— Mark Robinson (@StormhunterTWN) February 13, 2025
Made it to the office! However, I did see a lot of cars in ditches and a lot of big trucks going way too fast for the conditions. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/WrarCUXfKd
— Mark Robinson (@StormhunterTWN) February 13, 2025
My commute took me 45 mins on the 407, which is only an extra 20 mins. Thank you to the plows working hard to clear the roads 🤗❄️ #onstorm #ONwx pic.twitter.com/iCsvRGU5Mn
— Melinda Singh TWN (@WxMelinda21) February 13, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
21 hours ago
- Washington Post
Greenland and Iceland saw record heat in May. What does that mean for the world?
Human-caused climate change boosted Iceland and Greenland 's temperatures by several degrees during a record-setting May heat wave, raising concerns about the far-reaching implications melting Arctic ice has for weather around the world, scientists said in an analysis released Wednesday. The Greenland ice sheet melted many times faster than normal during the heat wave, according to the analysis by World Weather Attribution, with at least two communities seeing record temperatures for May. Parts of Iceland saw temperatures more than 10°C (18 °F) above average, and the country set a record for its warmest temperature in May when Egilsstadir Airport hit 26.6°C (79.9 F) on May 15.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Mills reaffirms commitment to foreign trade partners amid tariff uncertainty
Jun. 9—Gov. Janet Mills reaffirmed Maine's commitment to its northern and European neighbors and to preserving the Arctic landscape in the face of climate change at an annual breakfast with business and trade leaders. Speaking to a crowd of hundreds at the Governor's International Breakfast on Monday, Mills emphasized the interconnectedness of trade and the environment, and she championed the importance of understanding and minimizing the worst effects of climate change. The theme of Monday's breakfast was "Maine: Gateway to the Arctic and North Atlantic." Speakers, including representatives of shipping logistics company Eimskip and the Maine International Trade Center, discussed Maine's role as a shipping and marine industry hub. Mills said the actions of other nations working in the Arctic, including Canada and Maine's European trading partners, directly impact "our little state." "And the actions of our little state affect the Arctic," she said. Mills paid particular attention to Maine and Canada's "historic friendship and deeply intertwined economies," noting that the state took in billions of dollars' worth of goods last year, including high quantities of fuel and heating oil that rural Mainers rely on. She highlighted a recent campaign to install signage welcoming Canadians at each of Maine's 13 border crossings. Canadian tourism is anticipated to drop by about a quarter this summer, as Canadians feel increasingly hesitant to visit in light of President Donald Trump's tariffs and threats to make their country the 51st state. "While we can't fix this economic uncertainty coming from the nation's capital," Maine can show Canadians tourists that they are welcome, Mills said. "It's the least we can do." Mills followed remarks by Bernadette Jordan, consul general of Canada in Boston, who thanked the governor for her "steadfast friendship." The Arctic, including Canada's Arctic Archipelago, has been warming four times faster than the rest of the world, Jordan said. Meanwhile, the country's northwest passage could become the most efficient shipping route between Europe and East Asia, which would lead to increased international traffic, she said. "The threats to our sovereignty are real when it comes to the North," she said, adding that Canada is pursuing intelligence-sharing agreements with other nations that include or do business in arctic territories. At one point, Mills directed her remarks to a table of visiting students from Edward Little High School in Auburn, urging them to ask questions of their elected officials and to avoid isolationism when they grow old enough to vote. She said Maine has learned improved forest production and fishery techniques from officials and tradespeople in Finland and Iceland, citing these as examples of cross-cultural knowledge sharing that drives innovation at home. Mills will join a handful of northeastern governors and a half-dozen Canadian premiers in Boston next week to discuss the impacts of tariffs and develop plans for ensuring cross-border trade continues. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Smoky skies send air quality to record lows in southern Ontario
Prolific smoke that's blown across North America and beyond over the past couple of weeks will bring reduced air quality to southern Ontario through Friday. 'As smoke levels increase, health risks increase,' Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) said in its special air quality statement for the region on Thursday. This risk includes the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton, Ottawa, Windsor, and much of cottage country. DON'T MISS: Significant wildfire activity across the western half of the country has sent plumes of smoke from the Arctic to the tropics—and even across the pond toward Europe. Most of the smoke we've seen of late over southern Ontario has remained elevated, contributing to hazy skies and vivid sunsets. Rain and strong winds that pushed through the region Wednesday and Thursday helped push some of that smoke down to the surface, reducing air quality and leading to a distinct burning smell at times. The front responsible for this pattern continues to linger across southern Ontario—forcing the smoke to linger through Friday, as well. Special air quality statements are in effect for almost all of southern Ontario through Friday as the low-level smoke blows across the area. The poorest air quality in the Greater Toronto Area is expected to persist through Friday. Thick smoke Thursday evening and overnight brought the Air Quality Index (AQI) for much of the region to extreme lows, rivalling the GTA's record-lowest average AQI over a 24-hour period and breaking that very record in London. Previously, much of Ontario's record-lowest AQIs were set in June and July of 2023—Canada's most destructive wildfire season to date. The reduced air quality could prove irritating to vulnerable people, such as those living with chronic respiratory problems. 'You may experience mild and common symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches or a mild cough. More serious but less common symptoms include wheezing, chest pains or severe cough,' ECCC says in its statement. Unfortunately, the poor air quality will to linger into the weekend as a ridge of high pressure in the atmosphere will continue to suppress the smoke to lower levels. Click here to view the video
