Record January storm dumps more than half a metre of snow, shuts down much of Toronto
A historic storm left Toronto under roughly 56 cm of snow on Jan. 25, forcing airport delays, transit outages and widespread closures across the city on Monday.
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By Torontoer Staff
A historic winter storm on Sunday, Jan. 25, dropped roughly 56 cm of snow across Toronto, prompting widespread closures and major disruption across the region on Monday. Schools, city services, transit and many events were cancelled or delayed as crews worked to clear streets and runways.
The total makes this the largest single January snowfall the city has recorded in decades, and triggered the City of Toronto's Major Snow Event Response Plan as municipal crews prioritised main roads, transit routes and emergency access.
How much snow fell
City centre accumulations were reported at about 56 cm. Toronto Pearson International Airport recorded 46 cm on Sunday, a daily record at that location. Environment Canada and meteorologists noted that January totals have reached record levels for the month since record keeping began in 1937.
- Toronto city centre: 56 cm
- Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ): 46 cm
- January total at YYZ: 88.2 cm, the snowiest January on record
The 46 cm at YYZ is the highest daily snowfall on record and Jan. 2026 snowfall total of 88.2 cm is the snowiest January and snowiest month since records began in 1937.
Ross Hull, meteorologist
Airport and travel impacts
Pearson experienced dozens of delays and cancellations that carried into Monday morning. The airport posted updates warning travellers to check flight status before leaving for the terminal while air traffic management measures remained in effect to manage aircraft movements safely.
Air traffic management initiatives remain in place to safely manage aircraft movements. The severe winter weather impacted flights to and from Toronto Pearson, and flight schedules may be affected.
Toronto Pearson
Road conditions and visibility were poor across the region. Crews focused on major arterials and emergency routes first. The City of Mississauga also announced many municipal facilities closed until at least noon on Monday, and warned of disruptions to local transit.
Transit outages and commuter disruption
Multiple TTC lines saw service interruptions on Monday morning. Sections of Line 1 and Line 2 were taken out of service and replaced by shuttle buses. Newer light-rail Line 6 Finch West was suspended between Finch West and Humber College, with shuttle buses running on that route as well.
Passengers faced long waits at shuttle stops and in cold temperatures. Several post-secondary institutions, including the University of Toronto and Seneca Polytechnic, cancelled morning classes in response to transit and road conditions.
Cancellations and closures across the city
Events and attractions closed or cancelled as conditions deteriorated. Danforth Music Hall called off a planned Jessie J concert on Sunday evening. The Toronto Zoo closed for the second time in as many weeks and remained closed on Monday for staff and animal safety.
Jessie J tonight has been canceled due to weather conditions. Refund information will be emailed to ticket holders directly when available.
Danforth Music Hall
Public school boards declared a snow day for Monday. City-run services such as recreation centres and libraries were closed in parts of the Greater Toronto Area while municipal staff continued clearance and assessment operations.
City response and ongoing operations
Toronto enacted its Major Snow Event Response Plan for the second time this month. That plan prioritises clearing arterial roads, emergency routes and transit corridors before moving to residential streets. Officials said ploughing and salt crews were deployed across the city, and that progress varied by neighbourhood as teams worked through deep accumulations.
Airport and municipal authorities used social media to post frequent updates about closures, schedule changes and service status. Transit agencies warned that restored service might be gradual, and that riders should expect delays as equipment and infrastructure were checked following the storm.
What comes next
No major snowfall is forecast for the next few days, which should allow crews to focus on clearing streets, sidewalks and transit routes. Officials cautioned that residual hazards remain, including drifting snow, reduced visibility in some areas and soft shoulders.
Residents are advised to follow local updates for changing conditions, avoid non-essential travel while major routes are being cleared, and allow extra time for trips that are necessary. Businesses and service operators will continue to post schedules and refund information where events or services were cancelled.
City agencies and transit operators said they would provide further progress updates throughout the week as cleanup continues and normal service is restored.
The storm will be recorded as one of the most significant January snowfall events in Toronto's history, and recovery will focus on restoring safe travel and reopening services across the region in the coming days.
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