GTA Weathers First Winter Storm Of The Year
Posted November 22, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was the kind of day that makes even the hardiest among us dream of a tropical beach under warm sunshine. But those who endured the first big storm of the season Thursday quickly found you can’t get there from here.
In fact, getting anywhere proved to be a tough challenge, as a major disturbance swept across the entire province, leaving rain, freezing rain, ice pellets, high winds and snow in its wake. How bad you were hit depended a lot on where you started off – and where you were going.
Toronto received between 3-6 centimetres of flakes when they finally started in earnest around sun-up. And we got off easy. Aurora wound up with 10 centimetres, Mount Forest absorbed 14, and Barrie shovelled out from 17 heavy centimetres. But those out east really got clobbered. In Ottawa, where it’s been snowing for days, 20 centimetres of fresh powder hit the ground. Cornwall residents struggled through 25.
Accidents abounded both in town and out. The worst took place after the bulk of the snow had already passed, with two serious crashes that closed Highway 400 for hours just past 1pm.
But there was almost no safe place to drive where there wasn’t some kind of roadblock. Cops tried their best to give advice, but their worst fears came true, anyway. “(About) 100 crashes overnight but now that the morning rush has started we’re experiencing one every minute,” noted OPP Sgt. Cam Woolley in the early going. “Most of these are minor collisions, people spinning out into the guide rails, going into the ditch. All are preventable and (drivers) simply speed too fast for road and weather conditions. People should keep in mind, you can’t blame the weather when you’re the driver. Even in the legislation, you’re the captain of the ship. You crash, you pay.”
Salt trucks were out in force, but many complained they never saw a plow. That’s because they’re only sent out when there’s enough snow on the ground to actually make it worthwhile. There are 5,300 kilometres of roads in the city. Getting to them all takes a while. Many side streets won’t be tended to for 15-20 hours after the flakes stop falling.
When asked how they were coping with the conditions, most GTA residents said they weren’t fazed.
“My neighbour that’s got a truck and I’m going to pay him and let him do it,” said Vaughan resident Angelo Russo about the prospect of clearing off his driveway.
And Eric Denov seemed prepared, saying, “We knew it was coming so I woke up a little early. Just trying to stay prepared I guess.”
It wasn’t much fun for those taking public transit, either. GO Transit riders experienced train delays on their lines travelling to Union Station from the east because of icy signal switches, which led to waits of up to half an hour on both eastbound and westbound trains. Also, GO buses ran 30 to 60 minutes late during the morning rush due to slippery road conditions. As for the TTC, subways ran smoothly but surface routes were slower than usual. It came as the Red Rocket relaunched its website with a new section to update riders on delays. Find it here .
There were a few delays at Pearson Airport as crews de-iced planes. Check GTAA for your flight info and for Porter Airlines, call (416) 619-8622 or (888) 619-8622 for information.
According to the CAA, estimated tow times and light service calls were anywhere from half an hour to 90 minutes. Priority calls were being given to people stranded on the highway who couldn’t get to shelter.
In the end, Toronto weathered this storm as it always does, leaving many to wonder when the next one’s coming and how badly we’ll get hit when it arrives.
Winter Driving Safety Checklist:
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Ensure your gas tank is filled
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Top up your windshield washer fluid and have an extra bottle on hand for emergencies. Have wipers checked to make sure they’re in good working order
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Have an ice scraper and snow brush on hand
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Consider keeping an extra pair of gloves in the car
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Keep an emergency kit in the trunk. Here’s what to include in it.
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Make sure your vehicle is well maintained, with proper air pressure in the tires and regular oil changes
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Keep some non-perishable food, like energy bars, and water packed away in case of an emergency
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Have a cell phone with you in case you need to call for roadside assistance, and have a list of emergency numbers in your glove box
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Change to snow tires for the winter
