Snow blasts southern Ontario, messy roadways expected through Wednesday night

Wednesday, February 5, 2014, 6:50 PM -

Police say several people are injured after a multi-vehicle pileup on Highway 401 just east of Trenton, Ont. 

Two massive weather-related collisions involving about 200 cars in total, have contributed to a traffic nightmare between Toronto and Cornwall.

The pileup comes as many roads in eastern and southern Ontario are covered in snow from a substantial snowstorm.

Snow has finished falling across southern Ontario, but blowing snow will be an issue through the evening.

A large storm hit the region Tuesday evening, causing widespread traffic delays well past the Wednesday morning commute.

GO Transit is reported one-hour delays and multiple schools were closed. Just ahead of the lunch hour, Toronto Police announced the closure of the northbound Don Valley Parkway at Don Mills.

Westbound Finch Ave. east has also been closed between Leslie and Bayview Avenues because of poor conditions and and abandoned vehicles.

Snowfall warnings were issued for much of Ontario from the southwest all the way through to Kingston, including the entire Greater Toronto Area.

Forecasters say parts of southern Ontario are on track for a total of 15-20 cm of snow by the time all is said and done, with the GTA getting 10-15 cm depending on location.

Officials are warning motorists to prepare for messy roadways throughout the evening.

"Commuters should allow extra time due to accumulating snow and reduced visibility in falling snow," Environment Canada warns in a statement.

Porter Airlines has issued a travel advisory advising passengers to check their flight status before making their way to the airport.

Nearly 400 flights were either delayed or cancelled at Pearson and Billy Bishop airports.

BEAT THE TRAFFIC : Get The App. Get There Sooner. Beat the Traffic helps ease your commute with recommended routes and real-time adjustments. Beat the Traffic by downloading it today for Apple and now on Android devices as well.

For lake shore communities, strong winds have had a worse experience, with gusts up to 60 km/h causing drifting and blowing snow.

The snowy wake-up dominated social media in the morning hours. 

This is actually the second of two Texas lows targeting eastern Canada in recent days. The first low had an impact over the past weekend. We're keeping an eye on another system that may bring more winter weather to southern Ontario early next week.

January was a comparatively harsh one for southern Ontario, with storm after storm striking the region, along with dangerously cold temperatures, making for what Weather Network meteorologists say is a "classic" winter for Toronto.

The snowy weather along some of the busiest highways in Canada led to fatalities and major traffic chaos. Read a look back at the worst road conditions of 2014.