Toronto is beginning to dig itself out from the largest snowfall in the city’s history, a process officials say will take several days. Some parts of Canada’s largest city were buried under nearly 60cm of snow, with over 500 flights cancelled Sunday after the main airport was snowed in.
More than 88.2cm of snow have fallen at Pearson International Airport this month, marking the snowiest January and snowiest month since records began in 1937. The storm, which swept across much of North America over the weekend, prompted several school boards to announce closures on Sunday evening, giving students their second snow day of the month.
The snow caused over 430 collisions in Toronto and another 200 in surrounding areas, including one fatality. Police warned drivers that roadside snow banks created by snowplows could cause cars to launch off highways. In the downtown core, drivers faced challenging conditions on residential streets.
The city’s transit system, used by over a million people daily, experienced multiple delays and closures. A streetcar derailed on one major route, and subways were unable to traverse above-ground sections with significant snowfall. Toronto’s city manager said staff would prioritise main roadways, with residential streets and sidewalks likely to take days to clear.
South of the border, snow cancelled flights in the US and ice storms caused power outages and hazardous roads, with at least 13 weather-related deaths reported. Despite the disruption, some Toronto residents embraced the snowfall, skiing along quiet streets and enjoying the record snow and long weekend.
