Ontario’s winter weather shows no signs of easing, as another wave of snow is set to blanket the region on Tuesday. Snow squall warnings have been issued for parts of southern Ontario, including areas near Lake Huron, with lesser advisories for Toronto, Barrie, and York Region. The city’s snow removal efforts continue to be challenged by the aftermath of multiple back-to-back snowstorms.
Snow Squall Warnings and Whiteout Conditions
Environment Canada has issued a snow squall warning for Owen Sound and nearby regions, with predictions of up to 70 centimetres of snow and whiteout conditions. The warning issued early Tuesday morning indicates that heavy snow squalls are expected to persist through the day and night, tapering off by Wednesday morning.
For those located farther south, including Toronto, Kitchener, Vaughan, and Barrie, snow accumulations are expected to be lighter. Toronto itself is forecasted to receive about five centimetres of fresh snow, with surrounding areas possibly seeing up to 10 centimetres. Local gusty winds could create blowing snow, significantly reducing visibility. However, the snow is expected to end and winds will decrease by the evening, according to the advisory.
Toronto’s Snow Removal Struggles Continue
The recent spate of snowstorms has left Toronto grappling with a mounting backlog of snow clearing. The city was hit with 25 centimetres of snow over the weekend, following another 20 centimetres earlier in the week. To make matters worse, the city had already accumulated 10 centimetres the previous Saturday. The persistent snowfall has left sidewalks and smaller roads dangerous and difficult to navigate.
Toronto’s snow removal efforts have been ongoing, with the city declaring a snowstorm condition last Wednesday that remained in place for days. Major roads and transit routes are receiving priority attention, but the snow removal process for secondary roads and sidewalks remains slow. The city’s snow removal plan includes using dump trucks to transport accumulated snow off the streets, a process expected to stretch over weeks due to cold temperatures that prevent snow from melting.
Cold Weather Hampers Snow Clearing
The impact of the new snowfall will be minor compared to the significant amounts already on the ground, according to Global News meteorologist Anthony Farnell. “This will bring the salt trucks back out, but it won’t be enough to plow or have a major impact on the longer-term plans the city has to remove the snow,” Farnell said. He noted that winds will gust over 40 km/h throughout Tuesday but will calm down by Wednesday.
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Unfortunately, cold temperatures are expected to persist until the end of the workweek, further complicating snow removal efforts. “The frigid weather will remain until Friday,” Farnell said. “Temperatures will climb slightly above freezing by the weekend, but it won’t be enough to melt the snow that has already fallen.”
Ongoing Winter Struggles and Long-Term Snow Removal
The city’s snow removal efforts continue to be hindered by the sheer volume of snow and the cold temperatures. The combination of back-to-back snowstorms and unrelenting winter weather means it could be weeks before streets are fully cleared. The forecast also signals the possibility of more snow in the coming days, meaning Toronto’s ongoing battle with winter weather is far from over.
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