Snowplows and salters were rolled out as the first winter storm of the season covered the Toronto area in a blanket of snow Monday evening.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for the Greater Toronto Area on Monday morning, warning that storms were expected at night.

The statement said a low pressure system from Texas is heading toward the Great Lakes, bringing snow and ice to southern Ontario.

"Snow is expected to develop this evening and quickly become heavy, accumulating some 5 to 10 centimetres before changing to ice pellets after midnight," the statement said.

The snow began falling at approximately 6 p.m., quickly creating hazardous driving conditions in the Toronto area.

Other areas, such as Mississauga, Newmarket, Caledon and parts of Brampton experienced freezing rain.

Environment Canada warned travellers to expect delays due to slippery roads, poor visibility and the fact that it's the first storm of winter 2015-16, so drivers may be unprepared.

The weather agency warned that the snow will be accompanied by wind gusts of between 40 and 60 km/h, meaning visibility may be poor on Monday evening and overnight.

The snow is expected to be washed away Tuesday morning when the temperature is expected to rise, turning the snow to rain.

In addition to the City of Toronto, the following areas fall under Environment Canada's special weather statement:

  • Barrie-Orillia-Midland
  • Belleville-Quinte-Northumberland
  • Brockville-Leeds and Grenville
  • Dufferin-Innisfil
  • Halton-Peel
  • Kingston-Prince Edward
  • Peterborough-Kawartha Lakes
  • Stirling-Tweed-South Frontenac
  • York-Durham

Environment Canada has winter storm warnings in effect for the following regions:

  • Algonquin
  • Bancroft-Bon Echo Park
  • Burk's Falls-Bayfield Inlet
  • Cornwall-Morrisburg
  • Grey-Bruce
  • Haliburton
  • Ottawa
  • Parry Sound-Muskoka
  • Prescott and Russell
  • Renfrew-Pembroke-Barry's Bay
  • Smiths Falls-Lanark-Sharbot Lake

Freezing rain warnings are in effect for:

  • Dunnville-Caledonia-Haldimand
  • Elgin
  • Grey-Bruce
  • Hamilton
  • Huron-Perth
  • London-Middlesex
  • Niagara
  • Oxford-Brant
  • Sarnia-Lambton
  • Simcoe-Delhi-Norfolk
  • Waterloo-Wellington
  • Windsor-Essex-Chatham-Kent