Toronto is beginning the arduous task of recovering from the largest snowfall in the city’s history, which has left residents and officials grappling with unprecedented challenges. In fact, this past month, a double whammy winter storm delivered over 88.2 centimeters of snow in one shot at Pearson International Airport. In fact, January has been the snowiest month since 1937.
Toronto’s geographic location on the shores of Lake Ontario played a major role in the severity of this snowstorm. Among city workers, activity is at a fevered pitch, thanks to the deep cover. Toronto’s city manager informed the media that staff will prioritize clearing the main arterial roadways first.
Ten months later, the snow is still affecting the day-to-day in Toronto. Consequently, the transit system, which is used by more than one million riders daily, has gone through dozens of delays and shutdowns. With commuters in the downtown core already seeing dangerous conditions on residential streets, commutes almost anywhere else in the city have become a nightmare.
Screenshot of flight status from Pearson International Airport in Toronto Severe weather whipped through Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, cutting power and grounding flights. Meanwhile, severe winter weather forced more than 500 flight cancellations. Residents in some regions claimed they were overwhelmed with almost 60 cm (almost 23 inches) of snow. Outcomes In anticipation of the storm, most local school boards preemptively called for closures by Sunday evening. This decision pleased students, who reigned in their power to force a second snow day of the month.
Equally tragic are the lives lost due to the storm’s immediate impact and persistent problems. Ottawa authorities reported over 430 collisions caused within Toronto and over 200 in surrounding areas, resulting in one death. At least 13 such deaths — mostly from the storm’s frigid aftermath — have been confirmed across North America. We still don’t know the specific places that people are dying.
In an effort to assist residents, the city has provided a GPS tracking tool known as PlowTO, allowing citizens to follow snowplows and check which streets have been cleared.
With recovery efforts moving forward, Paul Johnson, the city’s director of transportation services, said prioritization is now on plowing first.
“This is going to be a plowing day, and then we’re going to have to shift into removal time once we get through today and into tomorrow,” – Paul Johnson
In all, a combination of extreme snowfall and warm weather miracles have let some Torontonians enjoy the winter wonderland. By one account, hundreds went skiing down newly-opened streets on a sunny morning, rejoicing in their unusual new routine inside the storm’s swirling wrath.
It will likely take Toronto “several days” to completely get back on track after this historic snowstorm. Residents are preparing for a long-term recovery process. They cling to disillusionment with weather uncertainty and safer travel expectations in the coming days.