Toronto under winter storm watch this weekend

If you live in or around Toronto, you may want to keep that shovel nearby.

After a wallop of winter weather this week, the city could see another 25 to 35 centimetres of snow this weekend, Environment Canada says. The agency issued a winter storm warning Saturday morning, with snow beginning in the afternoon and ending Sunday evening. 

At its peak, it could bring three to six centimetres per hour, the federal weather agency says.

Snow is expected to be lighter Saturday, with Environment Canada calling for amounts of up to 10 centimetres by late evening. But conditions are expected to "rapidly deteriorate" Sunday morning, the agency says, as snow accumulates and blowing snow arrives.

Accumulating snow could make for hazardous travel conditions, and blowing snow could reduce visibility, Environment Canada warns. People in and around the city are encouraged to consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.

Parts of the Niagara Peninsula may also see a period of freezing rain Sunday morning. 

That's on top of the nearly 20 centimetres of snow that fell overnight Wednesday and into Thursday morning, Toronto city officials said Friday. The storm this week also brought more than 30 centimetres of snow to Mississauga overnight Wednesday, the City of Mississauga said in a news release. That's the most snowfall Mississauga has seen in nearly two years, it said.

Upcoming storm prompts closures, impacts travel 

More than 50 transit stops in Toronto were out of service just before 5:30 p.m., according to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) website. 

The Toronto Transit Commission has extra staff and maintenance vehicles deployed throughout the city this weekend to spread salt, clear snow and keep lines moving through the snow, according to a post on X, formerly Twitter. 

Crews at Toronto Pearson Airport were out Saturday morning clearing runways but the upcoming blast of winter weather could impact flights, the airport said in a post on X. 

The airport's website showed several flights had already been delayed Saturday. 

In anticipation of the snowfall, provincial transit agency Metrolinx says it's adjusting it schedules this weekend. The changes will be in effect from Saturday to Monday, it said in an email.

For Lakeshore West customers, GO Trains that start or end in Oakville will not run, but trains will continue to run every 30 minutes between Union Station and Oakville GO. No changes are in effect for customers between Bronte and Niagara Falls. 

For Lakeshore East customers, GO Train service will be on a modified run leaving every 30 minutes between Union Station and the Oshawa GO station. 

For Kitchener Line customers, Metrolinx is adding four more Kitchener trains on Saturday to support customers travelling during winter reading week at post-secondary institutions. 

Metrolinx is operating GO Bus routes on its regular Saturday schedule throughout the long weekend, but customers should prepare for delays due to the winter road conditions, the email says. 

The upcoming storm has also prompted some closures. The Royal Ontario Museum and Art Gallery of Ontario will be closed Sunday, while the City of Toronto's History Museum sites are closing at 4 p.m. Saturday and will remain closed until Monday. 

Snow may take time to clear, city says

Since Wednesday evening, crews in Toronto have been working around the clock to clear snow from roads, sidewalks and bike lanes, the city said in a news release. 

With more snow on the way, the city is keeping its significant weather event and "major snowstorm condition" declarations in effect over the weekend and possibly longer, depending on how much snow the city sees Saturday and Sunday, said Barbara Gray, the city's general manager of transportation services, at a news conference Friday. 

"It's quite challenging, but we're really well prepared for it," Gray said. "Our staff is doing a tremendous job. I think the residents have been also doing their part, we really appreciate that. But it's a lot of snow to move."

Below-zero temperatures next week means the snow might stick around for a while, Gray said.

"Much of the snow that's there will only move if we move it, so it's going to take some time."

The City of Vaughan has also declared a "significant weather event," saying in a release that it may take longer than usual to clear City roads, sidewalks, bicycle lanes and around facilities this weekend.

Air travel could also be affected.

Pearson International airport is expecting 128,000 travellers on just over 900 flights Saturday. In a post to X Saturday morning, the airport said updates will be provided throughout the weekend as officials monitor the weather, which may impact flights.

Close to 1,500 tickets issued for parking on snow routes

The significant weather event declaration means the city will be exempt from provincial service levels for winter maintenance, as it will take longer than usual to clear city roads, sidewalks and bicycle lanes.

Parking on designated snow routes is also prohibited while the "major snowstorm condition" is in effect, to allow for quicker snow removal. 

Approximately 1,500 tickets have been issued since the parking ban went into place Wednesday night, said Vincent Sferrazza, director of operations and maintenance for transportation services, during a news conference Friday.  The city has had at least 10 vehicles towed, he said. 

Gray asked residents to be patient, saying crews have already completed four rounds of snow clearing on the city's arterial roads. 

Warming centres opening

The Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre near Queen Street E. and Broadview Avenue will open at 5 p.m. Saturday in light of the weather, the city said in a release.

The following warming centres are already open, and will have increased space inside as of 5 p.m.:

• 136 Spadina Rd. (south of Dupont St.)
• 81 Elizabeth St. (behind City Hall. West of Bay St., south of Dundas St. W.)
• 12 Holmes Ave. (Off of Yonge St., south of Finch Ave. E.)
• 885 Scarborough Golf Club Rd. (East of Markham Rd., south of Ellesmere Rd.)
• Metro Hall, 55 John St. (East of John St., north of Wellington St. W.)

The Warming Centre at Cecil Community Centre will not open, the city says. It's been booked as a voting location for the upcoming provincial election.

People do not have to call ahead to access warming centres. The city welcomes walk-ins.