Toronto could see the first taste of winter weather this morning as a low-pressure system brings snow to the city.
Environment Canada issued a winter weather travel advisory on Tuesday night, warning of potentially hazardous driving conditions throughout the day.
The city could see upwards of five centimetres of snowfall before flurries taper off this evening. The national agency is warning of reduced visibility at times and noted that the inclement weather could have a “significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas.”
CP24.com will have live updates throughout the day as the snow falls. Here is the latest:
10:30 a.m.
Environment Canada has issued dozens of winter weather travel advisories and snow squall warnings across Ontario today. Most of the snow squall warnings are outside of the GTA, with the closest one currently covering Cobourg where Environment Canada is warning of 15 to 25 centimetres of snow. Here is a look at all the advisories and warnings:
Dozens of snow squall warnings (red) and winter weather travel advisories (grey) issued by Environment Canada for Ontario on Wednesday are shown.
9:30 a.m.
CAA South Central Ontario spokesperson Nadia Matos tells CP24 that the automobile association is already experiencing a higher than normal call volume so far this morning and expects that trend to continue as the day goes on. Matos says that as the temperature dips, CAA typically sees a spike in calls for battery failures. She says that the road conditions today are also likely to result in an increased demand for CAA’s towing services.
“It is slippery and slick so we will likely see some towing and winching as the day goes on. That means people who have lost control of their vehicles and are a ditch or wherever that might be,” she said.
9 a.m.
Richmond Hill Mayor David West says that snow removal in the city will continue despite an ongoing strike by some municipal workers, including some plow operators. West, however, says that it is possible that there could be some delays in clearing roads and sidewalks as a contractor used by the city has been asked to take on additional responsibilities during the strike.
“In regular times we have a contractor that takes on about half of our city. But because of the strike we have asked that contractor take on more responsibilities,” he told CP24 on Wednesday morning. “Our snow removal could be delayed a little bit. We do have crews ready to go. They have actually been out all night already, doing some salting and getting ready for the event. We are not expecting huge delays in our winter maintenance; it will be similar to what we have always had.”
Snowfall expected in the GTA on Wednesday afternoon is shown on CP24’s Future Cast radar.
7:15 a.m.
OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt is warning drivers to be aware that road conditions could change quickly amid today’s winter storm. Schmidt told CP24 on Wednesday morning that while traction is still fine on most 400-series highway, it could deteriorate throughout the day.
“It is very simple. Share the road and be aware of your surroundings. Once that precipitation starts falling you don’t get the visual clues that the roads are actually slippery and you only realize that when you hit the breaks,” he told CP24.