Snow’s coming: 20–30 cm expected in Toronto, temps plunging to -22 with wind chill
Environment Canada warns of 20–30 cm of snow starting Wednesday evening and a drastic temperature drop. Expect travel impacts, school and transit updates by 6 a.m.
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By Torontoer Staff
Heads up, Toronto — Environment Canada has put the city under a yellow snowfall warning for Wednesday night. The system is set to roll in during the evening and could leave 20 to 30 centimetres on the ground by Thursday, with rush-hour chaos a real possibility.
It’s not just the snow you need to think about: temperatures will tumble. After a mildish afternoon, the mercury is forecast to dip to around −12°C tonight before wind chill pushes it down to about −22°C overnight and into Thursday morning. Expect a bitter feel of about −22°C in the early hours and roughly −17°C in the afternoon.
How much snow are we actually looking at?
For the city itself, plan for roughly 20–30 cm of snowfall beginning Wednesday night and tapering off into Thursday evening. Some places north of the city, up toward Barrie, could see around 20 cm, while parts of eastern Ontario and Ottawa might get closer to 25 cm. Southwestern Ontario could get hit harder — squalls off Lake Huron could dump up to 40 cm around Sarnia.
A developing low pressure system will bring significant snowfall to much of southern Ontario. A sharp temperature drop leading to cold wind chills by Thursday morning, during ongoing snowfall, will add to the adverse weather conditions.
Environment Canada
Transit, schools and universities: what to watch for
If you’re commuting from Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke or the Beaches into downtown, keep an eye on updates early Thursday. Boards and campuses are watching the weather closely — the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board said they’ll announce any bus or school cancellations by 6 a.m., and both Toronto Metropolitan University and York University are on weather watch with updates also due by 6 a.m.
The TTC has activated its winter plan and is deploying extra crews, maintenance vehicles and anti-icing trains for subways and streetcars. That said, some bus stops in hilly areas may be taken out of service if conditions become slippery, and all streets with streetcar tracks are snow routes — so think twice before leaving your car parked on those streets.
Vehicles parked against snowbanks can block streetcars, causing delays, diversions, and significant inconvenience for thousands of customers.
TTC
GO Transit says its winter team is preparing and that it expects to run regular service, but urges riders to check for service alerts before travelling.
Our winter team is working hard to prepare, and we expect to run our regular service.
GO Transit
Driving and safety: solid tips for getting around
With visibility reduced in heavy snow and local blowing snow possible, police and OPP are reminding drivers to slow down and plan ahead. If you do need to drive, make sure your vehicle is winter-ready, carry an emergency kit, and leave extra distance between cars. Give yourself plenty of time — and seriously, consider leaving the car at home if you can.
Get ready tonight, so you are ready for tomorrow. Snow, wind chill and freezing temperatures will be waiting for us in the morning... Give yourself space, give yourself time, take it easy, eyes on the road, hands on the wheel.
OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt
City clearing plans and what that means for your street
The city will start salting roads, bikeways and sidewalks when accumulation begins to stick. Plowing thresholds are specific: sidewalks and bike lanes at 2 cm, expressways at 2.5 cm, main roads at 5 cm and residential streets at 8 cm. Keep in mind that a full round of plowing can take anywhere from two to 14 hours depending on the route — so patience is necessary, especially in neighbourhoods like the Annex or the Danforth where side streets can take longer to get cleared.
Quick checklist before the storm
- Check school, university and transit updates by 6 a.m. Thursday.
- If possible, opt for transit and avoid driving unless essential.
- Move your car off snow routes and don’t block streetcar tracks.
- Pack an emergency kit in your vehicle: blanket, phone charger, snacks, shovel and ice scraper.
- Shovel and clear sidewalks promptly if you’re a homeowner — plowing starts earlier for sidewalks and bike lanes.
- Dress for the cold: layers, warm boots, hat and mitts — wind chill will make it bite.
Whether you’re commuting into the core, heading out to run errands in Liberty Village or staying in for a cozy day in with a Tim Hortons double-double, plan for slower travel and colder conditions. Keep an eye on local updates, give yourself extra time, and stay safe out there — Toronto’s winter has a way of reminding us it’s still in charge.
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