Toronto is beginning to dig itself out from the largest snowfall in the city’s history, a process which officials say is likely to take “several days”.
Some parts of Canada’s largest city were buried under nearly 60cm (about 23in) of snow and more than 500 flights were cancelled Sunday after Toronto’s 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 take the rare step of announcing closures on Sunday evening – to the elation of Toronto students who received their second snow day of the month. Staff and families typically learn of closures early in the morning.
The snow caused more 430 collisions in Toronto and another 200 in the surrounding areas, including one fatality.
Police warned drivers that roadside banks of snow, created by snowplows could lead to cars entering “launch-type angle” and flying off the highway. In Toronto’s downtown core, drivers were still facing challenging conditions on residential streets.
The city’s transit system, used by more than 1 million people each day, was hit with multiple delays and closures. On one major route, a streetcar derailed and subways were unable to traverse sections of track that were above ground and received significant snowfall.
Toronto’s city manager said staff would prioritize main roadways and it would be days before residential streets and sidewalks were cleared. In addition to snowplows, the city had workers using shovels.
“This is going to be a plowing day, and then we’re going to have to shift into removal time once we get through today and into tomorrow,” said Paul Johnson. Residents can use the city’s GPS tracking tool, PlowTO, to follow snowplows and see which streets have been cleared.
South of the border, snow cancelled flights in the US and ice storms brought power outages and hazardous roads. At least 13 weather-related deaths have been reported.
Still, the snowfall has been eagerly embraced by Toronto residents, some of whom took to skiing along quiet streets on a sunny morning. Children, sleds and shovels in hand, surveyed the extent of the storm enjoying both – a record snowfall and a long weekend.
CP24 meteorologist Bill Coulter said Toronto’s location along the shores of Lake Ontario was a key ingredient for the snow, which far exceeded initial predictions.
The “monster” was the result from Arctic air colliding with moist air from the tropics, with the northern fringes holding the most snow. “What a winter wallop for Toronto,” he said.
