Winter storm brings traffic to a standstill in Ontario, Quebec (PHOTOS)

Digital WritersThe Weather Network

Published on Jan. 17, 2022, 4:19 PM

Updated on Jan. 18, 2022, 3:04 AM

Widespread road closures, delays and several collisions were reported in southern Ontario and Quebec Monday during the peak of the intense winter storm.

A wide-reaching winter storm blanketed parts of Ontario and Quebec Sunday evening into Monday, dumping 30-50+cm of snow in some places, leading to dangerous roadways, delays, collisions and closures.

In Toronto, officials had temporarily closed the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway at one point due to the conditions.

Both are major traffic arteries. Combined, an average of 175,000 cars use the roadways daily, according to the City of Toronto.

On Highway 401, traffic came to a "standstill" Monday, with stranded drivers leaving their cars to shovel the highway.

This system is part of a large storm spanning the U.S. East Coast, and Central and Eastern Canada, with the highest snowfall totals falling along the spine of the Appalachians, as well as across the lower Great Lakes.

Here's a look at the effects of the storm in photos.

ONTARIO

(Bloor St. neighbourhood Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Toronto, Ont. Credit: Chris Bilton/The Weather Network)

(Toronto, Ont. Jan. 17, 2022. Credit: Robyn Yakiwchuk/The Weather Network)

QUEBEC