London and areas along the 401 in parts of southwestern Ontario faced a deluge of snow on Thursday evening, stranding some drivers for hours for several hours.
Environment Canada had predicted 30 to 60 centimetres of snow throughout the evening and into the morning, with wind gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour, leading to the London Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police warning against unnecessary travel. Crashes occurred on both the westbound and eastbound lanes of the 401 near Putnam Road in the afternoon, halting traffic to a standstill.