Snowy chaos overtakes Toronto, shuttering schools and stretches of major highway

schooltime closures, rock-bottom pass across: GTA damned with winter storm

A number of crashes and reports of black ice forced the city to close the Don Valley Parkway on Thursday morning, while most major school boards in the GTA also closed due to heavy overnight snow that's expected to continue throughout the day.

It comes exactly 27 years after former mayor Mel Lastman called in Canada's military to help dig the city out of a snowstorm.

The Don Valley Parkway was closed southbound from Eglinton Avenue to the Gardiner Expressway and northbound from Bloor Street to Highway 401 during the morning commute, Toronto police said on social media. The move was in part made to support snow-clearing efforts, police said.

People across the GTA are rethinking their day due to school closures and travel challenges.

A total of 20 to 35 centimetres of snowfall is expected by the time the storm is done, with warnings of reduced visibility due to heavy and blowing snow, said Environment Canada.

An orange snowfall warning is in place for much of the Greater Toronto Area, including York, Durham and Peel regions. According to Environment Canada, orange alerts are uncommon and signify severe weather that may cause "significant damage" and "disruption."

Why wasn't Environment Canada's orange snowfall warning issued sooner?

The wintery weather is expected to taper off later into Thursday afternoon around 3 or 4 p.m., said meteorologist Shem Willie with Environment Canada.

While a high of -9 C is forecasted, it'll feel more like -24 due to wind chill, he said.

Several school boards and post-secondary institutes made the call early Thursday morning to either cancel school bus service or completely shut down for the day.

Here's what we know is closed for the day:

Meanwhile the Durham District School Board and the Durham Catholic District School Board decided to keep doors open, but cancelled transportation services throughout the region.

YMCA programs and child care also closed at locations based in Dufferin County, Halton Region, Toronto and York Region.

Line 6 shuttered service between Humber College to Finch West station as of 7:46 a.m. Thursday due to weather conditions, according to TTC Service Alerts on social media.

It was the second time service shut down along the Finch West LRT after an earlier closure from switch issues caused by the inclement weather, said TTC spokesperson Susan Nguyen.

Finch LRT uses same switches as Ottawa's plagued transit line

The TTC's website included information of 48 bus stops that were not in service due to the harsh winter conditions.

GO buses throughout the region are facing up to 30 minute delays as of Thursday morning, said a Metrolinx spokesperson.

Large parts of the Don Valley Parkway have been closed to give snow plows space to clear slippery roads, said Toronto police spokesperson Viktor Sarudi.

He said so far police have received between 70 and 80 calls for collisions around the city.

Drivers throughout the region are being warned of a "messy" and "treacherous" commute due to the build up of snow, said Sgt. Kerry Schmidt with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

"We got some other ramps that are closed, cars spinning out and we're responding to them as quickly as we can," Schmidt said.

If possible, he advised people to stay home and avoid being on the roads until the winter weather passes through.

Schmidt said drivers should be cautious, leave extra space between vehicles and try not to pass the snow plows and salters working to clear roads this morning.

Both of Toronto's airports are grappling with the snow.

Crews are continuously carrying out snow clearance of the airfield, said Toronto's Pearson International Airport on social media Thursday.

It said air traffic management initiatives were in place due to the weather, which may impact some flights going in and out of Toronto.

Billy Bishop airport has also been hit with delays throughout the morning, though most flights after 8:30 a.m. ET are slated to be on time.

Travellers at both airports are urged to check their flight status prior to arrival.

Traveling Thursday? Here's what you need to know about possible delays at Pearson

City crews will run multiple rounds today with snow plows and salters to clear roads, sidewalks and bikeways, said City of Toronto spokesperson Russell Baker.

Snow clearance will prioritize getting to expressways and major roads while flurries accumulates, he said, adding side streets will be addressed later on.

Baker said warming centres will remain open for anyone looking for shelter with access to food and community services. Two additional surge warming centres will open Thursday at 5 p.m.

Most of the city's child-care centres remain open except for those located at Toronto schools, said the City of Toronto on social media. It added that after-school programs were also cancelled for the day.

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