Airport Records Highest January 15 Snowfall
Toronto faced a historic winter storm after a record amount of snow fell across the city and surrounding areas. Toronto Pearson International Airport recorded 22 centimetres of snow, according to Monica Vaswani, a preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada.
The previous record for January 15 dated back to 1863, when the Toronto area received 15.2 centimetres of snow. Vaswani said officials will still review the data before confirming the record.
“This was a major event, not only because of how much snow fell, but also because of how quickly it accumulated,” she said on Thursday evening.
Heavy Snowfall Across the GTA
Unofficial reports from volunteer observers showed even higher totals in some areas. North Scarborough received 53 centimetres, while Markham recorded 45 centimetres. In addition, Downsview measured 37.4 centimetres, midtown Toronto saw 23 centimetres, and downtown areas recorded 21 centimetres.
As a result, many neighbourhoods continue to face difficult travel conditions.
Rare Weather Alert Issued
Environment Canada initially issued a yellow snowfall warning, but officials upgraded it to orange on Thursday morning. Authorities lifted the alert around 3:30 p.m. the same day.
According to Environment Canada, orange warnings remain rare and indicate severe weather capable of causing major disruption and damage.
Officials Urge Continued Caution
Although the warning has ended, Vaswani warned residents not to return to normal activities too quickly. She said snow-covered roads will take time to clear.
Moreover, she cautioned that ice likely formed beneath the snow due to warmer temperatures earlier in the week. She also urged residents to monitor any further weather alerts.
Hundreds of Collisions Reported
The storm led to widespread travel problems across the Greater Toronto Area. By 8 p.m. Thursday, Ontario Provincial Police reported more than 400 collisions and service calls.
These included 260 traffic crashes and 150 calls for assistance, such as vehicles stuck in ditches or snowbanks. Sgt. Kerry Schmidt of the OPP’s highway safety division confirmed the figures.
City Activates Major Snow Response
Meanwhile, Toronto officials classified the storm as a major snow event. In response, the city activated its newly introduced major snow event response plan, according to a news release.
Officials said snowfall that began Wednesday night is expected to continue through the weekend. Forecasts predict 30 to 43 centimetres of snow between Thursday and Friday, with additional snowfall likely in the days ahead.
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