Toronto’s public schools are closed Monday, hundreds of flights cancelled, and the city is asking residents to stay off the roads as parts of southern Ontario are being walloped by a winter storm blasting the province.
Environment Canada issued orange alert winter storm warnings for several communities in the Greater Toronto Area, with 30 to 50 centimetres of snow expected in Toronto, Mississauga, Burlington and Pickering by Monday morning.
Sunday afternoon, the Toronto District School Board announced all of its schools and facilities would be closed Monday.
Toronto Catholic District School Board, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, Durham District School Board and Peel District School Boards have also closed schools and worksites for Monday.
The City of Toronto activated its second major snow event response plan of the year, declaring a major snowstorm condition and significant weather event.
“Torontonians are encouraged to refrain from unnecessary travel and stay in place wherever possible,” a news release reads. “Continuous plowing is happening around the clock across Toronto.”
Some areas could see up to or even more than 60 cm, particularly in southern parts of Toronto and Missisauga, Environment Canada says.
Forecasters add the regions could see peak snowfall rates of five to 10 centimetres per hour, with gusting winds of 50 km/h and reduced visibility due to blowing snow.
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As of 5:30 p.m., Global News chief meteorologist Anthony Farnell says approximately 50 cm had fallen in parts of Toronto’s downtown core.
The weather is expected to continue through Sunday night with a band of lake-effect snow impacting areas from western Northumberland County to the GTA.
The agency adds the lake-enhanced snow will shift southward to Oakville and Burlington later this evening.
At Toronto Pearson International Airport, hundreds of domestic and international flight departures and arrivals have either been delayed or cancelled.
Passengers are being asked to check their flight status with their airline before heading to the airport.
The TTC has put detours in place for some routes, while subway service has been suspended on parts of Lines 1 and 2.
Line 1 has no service between Eglinton and Bloor-Yonge, while Line 2 is suspended between Woodbine and Kennedy. Shuttle buses are running for both routes.
Outside of the GTA, some communities are still going to see heavy snow. Orange alert snowfall warnings have been issued for Hamilton, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls, with 15 to 25 cm possible accumulation by Sunday evening.
Most flights out of the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport were still running on time as of 6:15 p.m., though a few have been delayed.
Yellow alert snowfall warnings are in effect for many other Ontario regions, with 10 to 20 cm of snow expected as far south as Windsor and as far east as Ottawa.
Though snow isn’t expected in western and north-central Ontario, parts of those regions are forecast to see extreme cold conditions.
Orange alert cold warnings are in place for communities including Kenora, Sioux Lookout, Dryden and Fort Hope, where wind chills could reach near -45 C.
Yellow alert cold warnings are also in effect for the Timmins region as well as communities along James Bay, including Attawapiskat, with wind chill values of about -40.
People are urged to cover up if they have to go outside and to be aware of the greater risks for young children, older adults and people with chronic illnesses as well as those without proper shelter.
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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