200 flights cancelled at Toronto airport

About 200 flights in and out of Toronto have been cancelled as the forecast for Tuesday evening calls for whiteout conditions, gusty winds, and up to 30 centimetres of snow in parts of southern Ontario.

Bad weather is not the only reason for the cancellations, but many of the flights were supposed to travel through areas in the path of a much-hyped snowstorm expected to hit later today and Wednesday, said Greater Toronto Airports Authority spokesperson Trish Krale.

Flights have been cancelled to many U.S. cities, such as Cincinnati, Dallas, Pittsburgh,
Detroit, Boston and Chicago.

Passengers can check the status of incoming and departing flights online at www.gtaa.com

On the ground, Environment Canada is urging motorists to exercise caution on the slick roads.

“Travellers should be prepared to adjust plans accordingly as this is likely going to be a large and potentially dangerous winter storm,” said the weather authority, in a statement.

Touted as possibly the worst snowstorm in recent memory by Environment Canada, 20 to 30 centimetres of snow are expected to start falling this afternoon in the Greater Toronto Area.

The storm will ease into the area with scattered flurries and pick up by Tuesday night. It is expected to taper off by Wednesday afternoon. Temperatures will see a high of -6C, but it will feel much colder with the wind chill.

Gusty winds are expected to hit up to 60 km/h, Environment Canada said.

The winter storm warning also includes Barrie, Peterborough, Cornwall, Parry Sound, Ottawa and Kingston.

The storm is also wreaking havoc south of the border with snow, rain, tornadoes, and ice. Kansas City, St. Louis and Milwaukee are bracing for what may be one of the biggest snowstorms.

Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips said the storm will affect 100 million people in North America.

-- Liem Vu and Jenni Dunning, Staff Reporters

Rising temperatures to bring falling snow

A man's breath is lit by the setting sun while skating on a cold afternoon in Toronto on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011.(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese)

 

Toronto’s deep freeze is set to end by Monday evening.

 

The last of the extreme cold the city experienced over the weekend will gradually lift as newer, smaller weather systems are ushered in for the rest of the week.

Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips estimates that temperatures will reach highs of 0 to -2C on Wednesday and -5C on Thursday.

“This is the week the temperatures bottom out and they begin to rise upwards slowly…for the duration of winter,” said Phillips, adding that temperatures won’t drop back into the double digits.

But that reprieve in the cold comes with a downside: more snow.

 “Currently there is some snow over Lake Ontario,” says Ria Alsen, meteorologist for Environment Canada, first thing Monday morning.

“Right now it’s sitting just over the lake hitting Toronto Island.”

Alsen warns the snow could push over the lake and if it does, it may be heavy at times.

“It’s a question of how much inland this burst of snow will come,” says Alsen.

If it does come inland, it will hit the city either late Monday morning or early afternoon with the possibility of 5 cm falling in and around the GTA.

The flurries at times may be heavy and higher amounts are possible if the lake effect band moves slowly across the city.

Visibility may be severely reduced to near zero at times in heavy flurries.

 “The rest of the week will be rather uneventful, it won’t get as cold as it has been,” says Alsen. “We might see some flurries but no major systems are expected.”

The past weekend saw the coldest moment of winter thus far, said Phillips, with temperatures dropping to -33C with the wind chill.

-- Hayley Kelman, Staff Reporter

2010 warmest year ever for Canada

Storm drains were unable to cope as heavy rains from Hurricane Igor hit St.John's, N.L. in September. Paul Daly/CANADIAN PRESS

Did we miss something?

Oh yeah, winter.

Last year was the warmest in Canadian history. The combination of El Nino, melting polar ice and climate change ensured the country bypassed winter almost entirely, says Environment Canada.

“Winter didn’t exist in Canada in 2010,” says David Phillips, senior climatologist.

Freezing rain and fog making for tricky driving in Southwestern Ontario

If you’re heading out to visit family or friends in Southern Ontario, you might be facing tricky driving conditions.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement on Thursday warning of patchy dense fog, freezing rain and freezing drizzle in parts of Southern Ontario.

Although the fog is expected to dissipate by midday, the weather agency warned of zero visibility in several areas west of Toronto, particularly in Halton, Peel, Hamilton, Kitchener and Burlington.

And with a developing low pressure system — set to usher in milder temperatures — moving toward the upper Great Lakes area by Thursday evening, Southwestern Ontario is seeing intermittent freezing rain and drizzle.

Some areas will encounter minor ice build-up and Environment Canada is urging drivers and pedestrians to be prepared for slick surfaces.

The special weather statement was issued for several areas west and north of Toronto. The full list can be found on the weather agency’s website.

Meanwhile, Toronto itself is enjoying relatively mild weather with a temperature of 3°C Thursday and highs of 8°C predicted for New Year's Eve and and 10°C expected for the first day of 2011.

--Christine Dobby, Staff Reporter

Clear sailing for holiday travellers

Travellers in Canada will be getting a special present this Christmas: dry roads.

“It’s an atmospheric gift,” said Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips. “It’s going to a no-weather zone.”

The next few days in the GTA will be sunny, crisp and clear. On Christmas Day, Toronto is expected to see a high of -5 C and a low of -8 C. There is no snow or rain in the forecast.

This good weather will extend across the province, meaning travellers headed in every direction shouldn’t run into any poor driving conditions — even if they are headed to London, which has been blasted with snow in the last few weeks.

For people flying to family and friends on the East Coast, the turbulent weather that has plagued the Maritimes is ending in time for Christmas.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country in Vancouver, there will be rain but warm temperatures over the weekend. The only region that is expecting some light snow in the next few days is Manitoba, said Phillips.

“The weather is not one thing that should cloud our mind,” he said. “Instead you can think about re-gifting.”

The clear skies are marked change from the last five Christmases, where Toronto saw temperatures above zero and rain. Last year, there was 15.6 millimetres of rain on Dec. 25.

But Phillips noted that the chillier temperature for this year is not that out of the ordinary. The normal high for this time of the year is -1 C.   

The only thing missing for picture-perfect Christmases is a few falling snowflakes while people unwrap gifts, said Phillips.

--Madeleine White, Staff Reporter

Freezing rain brings slippery driving for GTA

Slick and icy roads in some spots are making for a tricky commute in parts of southern Ontario today.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement because of freezing drizzle, and then snow squalls in the snow belts.

The weather statement covers much of southern Ontario, including London-Middlesex, the Niagara region, north to the Algonquin area and east to Kingston-Prince Edward.

Areas of freezing drizzle developed during the night across several regions.

There are reports of slippery roads and numerous accidents in the greater Toronto area.

Conditions should improve a little later in the morning, as the freezing drizzle becomes patchy before ending.

-- The Canadian Press

Bundle up for morning commute

You won’t need the shovel during your morning commute, but you will need to bundle up.

With only a chance of flurries during the morning hours on Wednesday, the main concern for people as they travel to work will be the chilly temperature.

Environment Canada says the temperature could go as low as -12 C when day breaks.

The GTA will only see a high of -6 C, which is seven degrees below seasonal.

“It could be a lot worse,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Mark Schuster.

“The record low is -20.6 C and we’re nowhere near that.”

However, the break in the snow will be appreciated by residents in southern Ontario.

Tuesday left the region blanketed in the white stuff, with some regions – like the GTA – only getting a few centimeters and others – like Lambton County – getting a few feet.

Late Tuesday, some regions of the county, which is home to Sarnia, were getting close to 10 cm of snow per hour, said Schuster.

He also said there aren’t anymore dumpings of snow forecasted for the foreseeable future.

Madeleine White, Toronto Star

Why a winter storm took hundreds by surprise

A snowstorm trapped hundreds of motorists on Hwy.402 near Sarnia on Monday, Dec.13, 2010. (PHOTO BY JOHN STOVER)

An unusually mild November and warring air-pressure systems on either side hammered a narrow band of Hwy. 402 with sudden, intense and crippling snow, Environment Canada’s Geoff Coulson said Tuesday.

“It’s the very localized nature of these snow bands” that can fool motorists, the severe-weather expert told the Star. A snow-squall warning remained in effect through Wednesday.

London area slowly returns to normal

Students in London, Ont., went back to school today and their parents were able to take transit to work.

However, students in the Middlesex County in the Medway Valley Zone faced long delays with school buses.

Schools and colleges had been closed all week and transit buses idled while London dug out from a record snowstorm.

Hospitals also resumed non-emergency services that had been cancelled because of the storm, and most city services are operating again.

The system that dumped more than a metre of snow on the region is taking its time leaving, as another five to 10 centimetres is expected by Friday.

City manager Jeff Fielding says crews have been able to plow almost every street.

“Admittedly we're going to miss some streets. So, I ask for patience,” he said.

“Right now we're out with our salters and sanders and we're trying to keep the main roads in good condition. We'll be out there with 40 plows throughout the day."

--The Canadian Press

No transit, schools as London remains buried in snow

UPDATE: Provincial police say there have been more than 500 collisions in the western region of southern Ontario since the snow started falling, and are pleading with motorists to slow down.

"The number of collisions is alarming," said Insp. Mark Wright in a release.

"The simple fact is that people aren't slowing down and others are following too closely. There is no magic to winter driving, you simply have to drive slow."

Police say officers and other emergency workers are being put in danger by speeding motorists "who are under the illusion they can stop quickly on ice."

* * *

LONDON, Ont. - The London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph Health Care have cancelled non-emergency surgery and services as London digs out from a record snowfall.

Schools are closed, college exams are cancelled and there are no transit or school buses today after more than a metre of snow fell on the southwestern Ontario city since the weekend.

It’s more snow than London saw between last December and March.

Most city services are closed, but Canada Post says it will try to deliver the mail — although that could be tricky as many mailboxes are buried in snow.

Forecasters are calling for another 10 to 15 centimetres throughout the day today, before flurries taper off Thursday morning.

As of this morning, the system has moved north of London and is centred on Lucan, which has already received almost 1.5 metres of snow.

London did not see much in the way of new accumulation overnight and the major routes are in much better shape.

City manager Jeff Fielding says surrounding communities had offered help with snow clearing, but those offers dried up when the snow moved into those areas.

“We have sufficient crews and lots of equipment,” he said.

“We'll make a significant dent in the work today.”

Mayor Joe Fontana decided against declaring a state of emergency Tuesday, but said officials would continue to monitor the situation.

Meanwhile, the weather is being blamed for a series of crashes that closed a stretch of Highway 401 from Woodstock to Ingersoll.

Provincial police closed the westbound lanes of the highway after crashes involving up to four cars and seven tractor-trailers near the Woodstock truck stop.

Police say the 401 is very icy, and drivers should try to stay off the highway as snow squalls are causing reduced visibility and treacherous conditions.

- The Canadian Press