Several crashes reported as poorly timed snow hits Friday commute in Ontario

Digital WritersThe Weather Network

Published on Feb. 25, 2022, 10:14 AM

Updated on Feb. 25, 2022, 2:10 PM

Drivers urged to adjust Friday travel plans with swath of snow impacting road conditions.

Widespread winter weather travel advisories were issued for southern Ontario early Friday for a late season system that's spreading snow across the region. While overall snow totals aren't anything overly impressive, especially in comparison to what's already fallen this winter, it was the timing through the morning commute that stirred up some trouble for travellers. Roads were already slick and snow covered during the pre-dawn hours on Friday, with snowfall intensity picking up throughout the morning before gradually easing into the early afternoon. Because of the fluffier nature of the snow, it could also accumulate faster in some areas. More on the timing and impacts, plus a look at the next burst of snow to quickly follow this weekend, below.

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FRIDAY: SLOWER COMMUTE TIMES WITH SWATH OF POORLY TIMED SNOW

The snow with this far-reaching system pushed into parts of southwestern Ontario late Thursday evening, spreading into the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) during the overnight hours.

Snow reached its heaviest as it spread east Friday morning, making for tricky commute times with slick and snow covered roads.

According to OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, about 25 crashes were reported across the GTA before 8 a.m., with Schmidt advising drivers to just wait things out at home until the worst of the snow eases.

General widespread amounts of 5-10 cm are expected along the 401 corridor, with locally higher amounts up to 20 cm possible for areas near Kingston and the west end of Lake Ontario due to lake enhancement with a northeasterly wind.

This will also be a fluffier snow in nature, so it’ll accumulate faster on the ground, but should make for a bit of an easier cleanup as it winds down through the afternoon hours.

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Winter weather travel advisories span the region urging drivers to adjust travel plans accordingly. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow and visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in periods of heavy snow.

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WEEKEND: FAIR AND COLD TO START, SOME ADDITIONAL SNOW BY SUNDAY

Conditions will remain frigid into Saturday, with a cold front bringing a few additional centimetres of snow and gusty winds on Sunday. Bands of lake-effect snow for the traditional snow belts will then follow.

A fair and cold start is expected for next week, but forecasters will be watching the potential for a clipper on Tuesday. Milder weather will attempt to spread east into the region mid and late next week, but it could also run into some resistance.

There is also the potential for a wintry pattern during the second week of March, as Arctic air over Central Canada attempts to press into the region while warm weather over the eastern U.S. also tries to push north.

Be sure to check back for the latest updates on this late week snow threat in southern Ontario.