Toronto hit by record snowfall, military help not yet mobilized

Toronto and much of the Greater Toronto Area were blanketed by an intense winter storm that delivered record-breaking snowfall, disrupting transportation, closing schools and triggering widespread cleanup operations. At Toronto Pearson International Airport, officials recorded 46 cm of snow in a single day, the highest one-day total ever measured at the airport. In parts of downtown Toronto and surrounding neighbourhoods, totals were even higher, reaching up to 61 cm, making travel nearly impossible for much of the city on Sunday. The heavy snowfall pushed January’s cumulative total to 88.2 cm, marking the snowiest January — and the snowiest month overall — in the city’s recorded history since record-keeping began in 1937.

The storm hit with significant force throughout Sunday morning and afternoon, causing plows and salting crews to work around the clock. Environment Canada issued multiple winter storm warnings as conditions deteriorated, with blowing snow, poor visibility and snow-covered roadways creating hazardous travel across highways, major arteries and residential streets. Police urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, reporting numerous stalled vehicles and collisions early in the day. Transit systems also struggled: buses faced delays and rerouting, while some GO Transit and TTC services were temporarily suspended due to impassable routes and reduced visibility.

Many school boards in the region announced closures or remote-learning days for Monday, citing unsafe travel conditions for students and staff. The accumulation of snow on sidewalks, driveways and public walkways also created accessibility concerns. City crews emphasized that clearing operations could take several days, given the volume of snow and the need to prioritize main roads before moving into local and residential streets.

Despite the severity of the storm, meteorologists and longtime residents noted that the conditions did not match the scale of Toronto’s infamous January 1999 blizzard, which led then-mayor Mel Lastman to call in the Canadian Army for snow removal. That historic stretch saw back-to-back storms and more than 140 cm of snow within two weeks — nearly double the totals recorded during this weekend’s event. While this storm was significant and record-setting for a single month, city officials stressed that emergency resources remained stable and that Toronto was far better equipped today than during the 1999 crisis.

Snow-removal crews have been working continuously since early Sunday, deploying dozens of plows, salter trucks and sidewalk machines to restore mobility. Officials say their focus is on ensuring emergency routes, transit corridors and high-traffic roads remain clear. Residents are being urged to give crews space, stay off the roads when possible and prepare for slower commutes as cleanup continues. Waste collection schedules, parking enforcement and other city services may be temporarily disrupted as winter operations continue into the week.

The severe storm system highlights the challenges cities like Toronto continue to face with extreme weather events. As cleanup efforts progressed Monday, officials reminded residents to take precautions when shovelling, dress for extreme cold and monitor weather updates as wind chills and additional flurries remained possible. For now, Toronto is digging itself out from one of the most intense winter storms of the last decade, even if it falls short of the legendary blizzard that once brought in the army.