Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have reported a surge in accidents, with over 150 crashes occurring in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area since early Wednesday morning due to a mix of snow and rain.
Unofficial reports indicate that Toronto received 5-10 centimetres of snow before transitioning into rain along the lakeshore as temperatures rose.
However, the weather challenges are far from over. A cold front is expected to sweep through the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) this evening, ushering in strong northerly winds and plummeting temperatures to -9°C overnight, with a wind chill making it feel like -17°C.
Meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai warned, “Any wet surfaces out there could quickly turn icy in the coming hours.”
The OPP has been working tirelessly alongside tow trucks and emergency responders to manage the influx of incidents, resulting in extended wait times for roadside assistance. Authorities advise delaying non-essential travel until after the weather system has passed.
The incoming north wind is also likely to trigger snow squalls north of the city starting Wednesday evening and continuing through Thursday. York Region may experience the brunt of these squalls, potentially leading to school bus cancellations.
Areas like Barrie and Innisfil are bracing for significant snowfall, with up to 50 centimetres expected, while Newmarket could see an additional 20 to 35 centimetres of snow.
As Ramsahai humorously noted, “Ski hills may be rejoicing, but drivers won’t be.”
Looking ahead, Toronto is set to face the coldest weather of the season this weekend, with daytime highs on Sunday forecasted at -6°C, accompanied by a brisk wind chill of -13°C. Just recently, on December 8, the city recorded its coldest daytime high of the season at -3.3°C at Pearson Airport.