Big winter storm headed towards Ontario could dump 40 cm of snow in some areas
A significant winter storm is headed to Ontario that could dump up to 40 centimetres of snow in some regions and cause treacherous driving conditions.
According to Environment Canada, snow is forecast to arrive across southern Ontario on Sunday night and will "spread rapidly northeastward through the day Monday."
The weather agency says snow will fall heavily at times, with rates of a few centimetres per hour possible. Winds are also expected to gust up to 50 km/h Monday afternoon, causing poor visibility due to blowing snow.
"Travel will likely be difficult due to the expected heavy snow," Environment Canada said.
Regions like Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Welland, Grimsby, Kingston, Ottawa, Peterborough, Brockville, Tweed, and Cornwall should be prepared for anywhere between 25 and 40 centimetres of snow.
Peak snowfall rates of two to five centimetres per hour are possible Monday morning into Monday afternoon, Environment Canada said.
A person shovels snow from around a car during a snowstorm in Montreal, Saturday, January 16, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Residents in these regions are being urged to avoid travel if possible.
"There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas," Environment Canada said.
In Toronto, snowfall accumulations of 10 to 20 centimetres of snow are forecast Sunday night into Monday, however Environment Canada said "higher amounts can't be ruled out."
Pickering, Oshawa, Durham Region, Uxbridge, Beaverton, Vaughan, Richmond Hill,and Markham should expect similar snowfall amounts.
Monday is the first day Ontario students are slated to return to in-person learning across Ontario.
Conditions are forecast to improve by Monday evening as the snow comes to an end.
For more information, visit our weather page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Prince Charles and Camilla kick off three-day Canadian tour in St. John's today
Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, are in Newfoundland and Labrador's capital today to begin a three-day Canadian tour focused on Indigenous reconciliation and climate change.

Average price of gas in Canada tops $2 a litre for first time
Gasoline prices are showing no signs of letting up as the average price in Canada tops $2 a litre for the first time. Natural Resources Canada says the average price across the country for regular gasoline hit $2.06 per litre on Monday for an all-time high.
Top 6 moments from the 2022 Ontario election debate
Ontario’s four main party leaders were relatively civil as they spared at Monday night’s televised election debate in Toronto.
Attacking schools, Russia deals a blow to Ukraine's future
The Ukrainian government says Russia has shelled more than 1,000 schools, destroying 95. Intentionally attacking schools and other civilian infrastructure is a war crime. Experts say wide-scale wreckage can be used as evidence of Russian intent, and to refute claims that schools were simply collateral damage.
Tim Hortons and Justin Bieber set to launch Biebs Brew
A match made in marketing heaven between Tim Hortons and Justin Bieber is back with a new French vanilla-flavoured chilled coffee. Biebs Brew is the pop star's rendition of the coffee chain's cold brew coffee launched last year.
Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre denounces 'white replacement theory'
Pierre Poilievre is denouncing the 'white replacement theory' believed to be a motive for a mass shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., as 'ugly and disgusting hate-mongering.'
Rising cost of living worries Canadians, defines Ontario election
The rising cost of living is worrying Canadians and defining the Ontario election as prices go up on everything from groceries to gas.
Online diary: Buffalo gunman plotted attack for months
The white gunman accused of massacring 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket wrote as far back as November about staging a livestreamed attack on African Americans, practiced shooting from his car and travelled hours from his home in March to scout out the store, according to detailed diary entries he appears to have posted online.
Man killed in California church shooting called a hero
A gunman motivated by hatred against Taiwan chained shut the doors of a California church and hid firebombs before shooting at a gathering of mostly elderly Taiwanese parishioners, killing a man who tackled him, authorities said.