Toronto is currently recovering from a massive blizzard that blanketed the city with over 50 centimetres of snow, reaching a staggering 61 cm downtown. Snow crews are tirelessly working to clear roads and sidewalks, but many residents are still facing challenges navigating the snowy terrain.
Videos captured by CityNews show drivers struggling to free their vehicles from snowbanks and pedestrians trudging through untouched sidewalks more than 24 hours post-storm. Residents are describing the situation as “hectic” and some sidewalks remain impassable, causing difficulties for people trying to move around.
The city has declared a Major Snowstorm Condition, prompting the deployment of over 600 snowplows and 1,000 staff members to manage the cleanup. Mayor Olivia Chow reassured that major routes have already undergone multiple plowing rounds, with a focus on key areas like transit stops and important roadways.
As the city braces for continued snow clearing, the main concern now is where to put the massive amounts of snow being removed. City Manager Paul Johnson mentioned that while plowing is ongoing, the next phase will involve snow removal operations starting Wednesday, utilizing new equipment like snow-melters and additional sidewalk plows to expedite the process.
Residents are urged to contact 311 to report any remaining snow-covered streets or sidewalks, as the city works towards restoring normalcy after the historic blizzard.
Keyphrase: Toronto snowstorm cleanup