PHOTOS: Unrelenting snow squalls blast Ontario with major totals, impact travel
Some areas in Ontario have been hit with 20-100 cm of snowfall so far from the prolonged snow squall event––with plenty of more still to come for some through early this week––resulting in road closures, collisions and power outages and a town-declared state of emergency in Gravenhurst
A long-duration, powerful snow squall event in Ontario is bringing numerous travel disruptions, snow-covered roadways and some power outages, too.
Multiple, potent bands of lake-effect snow, which began in earnest on Thursday, is continuing to cause nightmares on the roads in some of Ontario's snowbelt regions, especially in the Muskoka region.
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Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) released a summary of received snowfall reports so far as of Saturday. Other than Beatrice, Ont., the totals listed below come from volunteer observations and are as of Saturday morning.
Echo Bay: 100 cm
Sault Ste. Marie: 73 to 82 cm
Gravenhurst: 45 cm
Beatrice: 42 cm
Washago: 40 cm
Orillia: 25 cm
Meanwhile, unofficial reports received through social media:
Bracebridge area (as of 9 A.M. EST Nov. 30): 89 cm
Walkerton (as of around noon EST Nov. 29): 24 to 26 cm
Baysville (as of around noon EST Nov. 29): approximately 50 cm
Port Sydney (as of 6:35 P.M. EST Nov. 29): 41 cm
Multiple collisions and cars getting stuck on the sides of the roads have been reported in the Muskoka region, which has bore the brunt of the most intense snow bands since Friday.
As well, Highway 11 southbound and northbound lanes were closed between highways 169 and 118 on Saturday. On Sunday morning, OPP said Highway 11 is still closed as emergency services continue to work on removing vehicles. There are reports of several people still stranded in their vehicles on the highway and other roadways, with emergency personnel still attempting to get to them.
Due to the ongoing road closures and major snowfall occurring in Gravenhurst, Mayor Heidi Lorenz declared a state of emergency in the community and activated the town’s virtual Emergency Operations Centre. The state of emergency is because of the substantial snowfall in the community and the prolonged closure of Highway 11.
Visuals of the significant snowfall event have been circulating on social media. Below is just a selection of what is making the rounds so far.
