Southern Ontario storm tapers off with some regions still under winter weather advisory

The sudden arrival of heavy snow and freezing rain that showered southern Ontario on Monday will taper off in Toronto this morning while a winter weather advisory persists in other parts of the province, according to the national weather agency.

Sometimes timing is everything. Tonight’s snow, heavy at times, happening during the evening commute. 5-10 cm expected, with peak rates of 2-4 cm per hour in some places. Drive safe, everyone! (Or perhaps stay home if you don’t have to be out there.) #onstorm @CTVToronto pic.twitter.com/acf4t8DRGC

— Lyndsay Morrison (@Lyndsay_CTV) February 27, 2023

Environment Canada has ended a winter weather advisory in Toronto that left up to 10 centimetres of snow in the city. Heavy blowing snow hammered Toronto and swept through southern Ontario with a messy mix of rain and snow on Monday.

On Tuesday morning, snow will be swapped for risk of freezing drizzle as temperatures climb back into the positives.

However, the advisory still persists in Barrie, Kingston and pushes northward until Ottawa, where a freezing rain warning is in effect.

An advisory in York - Durham, which forecasted an additional 2 centimetres of snow paired with a freezing drizzle on Tuesday morning, has ended. 

Environment Canada warned travel in the area may be hazardous due to sudden changes in the weather. “Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions,” the weather agency said on Tuesday morning.

In a video posted on social media Tuesday morning, OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said they have responded to roughly 150 collisions across the Greater Toronto Area since 2 p.m. on Monday.

About 150 crashes since 2pm yesterday in the #GTA. Roads are clear but still wet. Please drive safe and take care. pic.twitter.com/OBliZGSyXZ

— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) February 28, 2023

Schmidt noted that another 50 or so drivers also hit the ditch or spun out their vehicles during yesterday’s storm.

At this time, the OPP is assisting with a “handful of crashes,” he said, adding while driving conditions are much better now than they were yesterday, motorists should still be cautious.

“The roads are still damp and you’re still gonna need your washer fluid. There’s still snow up on the shoulders where the plows have pushed all of that snow from last night,” Schmidt said.

“We are above freezing right now so it is gonna be sloppy and wet out there. Just make sure you have good awareness of what’s going on around you and just always be mindful how you share the road with others.”