GTA under flood, snowfall warning as rain transitions to heavy snow
Posted February 16, 2022 6:25 am.
Last Updated February 17, 2022 3:15 pm.
The Extreme Weather Centre is open — full list of bus cancellations and school closures in the GTA can be found here.
Both a snowfall warning and flood warning are in effect and some GTA schools are closing for the day as Toronto experiences a weather rollercoaster.
Environment Canada is calling for snow and freezing rain after the significant rain that fell overnight and into Thursday morning. The rainfall made for a very wet morning commute and the drive home is expected to be snowy as temperatures drop.
The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) upgraded to a flood warning on Thursday morning asking residents to “exercise extreme caution around all river and bodies of water.”
“The water levels in some of TRCA’s watercourses are rising steadily and have yet to peak in all of TRCA’s watersheds, specifically in the Humber River and Don River,” says the TRCA. “With the additional forecast rainfall water levels may continue to rise.”
The TRCA is also asking drivers to avoid low-lying areas and underpasses.
The Long Branch GO station in Etobicoke was temporarily closed in the morning due to significant flooding but has since reopened.
@GOtransitLW Long Branch go station is flooded. I don't know why it's not mentioned on the website or Twitter so people can plan around it. pic.twitter.com/toQ3zWK10H
— Blitzy (@LillyAnne______) February 17, 2022
Several callers to the CityNews 680 newsroom reported ponding, pooling and flooding issues on major highways around the GTA during the morning commute.
Giant potholes obscured by flooding caused multiple flat tires along the eastbound QEW near the 427.
Giant potholes obscured by flooding have caused multiple flat tires along the #EBQEW approaching the 427. MTO are in the right lane. pic.twitter.com/SZfr2bdzBJ
— 680 NewsRadio Toronto Traffic & Weather (@NewsRadioTO) February 17, 2022
Flooding across the GTA this morning. #WB401 ramp to the 410 is a very slow drive as water has flooded the right lane. pic.twitter.com/hNS0taQCRf
— 680 NewsRadio Toronto Traffic & Weather (@NewsRadioTO) February 17, 2022
The snow, which will be heavy at times, will begin Thursday afternoon and continue through until Friday morning with between 15 to 25 cm of accumulation possible.
“Precipitation will begin as rain [Wednesday] evening and transition to snow Thursday afternoon. Freezing rain and ice pellets are also possible Thursday morning and afternoon,” Environment Canada said in a statement.
“Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow.”
The City of Toronto says its salt trucks are ready and will be deployed as soon as the rain changes to freezing rain. Plows will be deployed as soon as snow accumulation reaches 2.5 cm on expressways, five cm on major roads and eight cm on local roads. Sidewalk and bike lane plows will be deployed at two cm of snow accumulation.
The chilly temperatures will return on Friday with a high near -7 C.
*UPDATED: The window on Thursday for "heaviest" precipitation for each type is:
1. HEAVIEST RAIN: 4a-9a
2. HEAVIEST FZRA/IP: 3p-6p
3. HEAVIEST SNOW: 8p-1aStorm rain starts between 9p-11p tonight (especially for the north GTA), and storm snow ends 4a-5a Friday pic.twitter.com/eaNh9ULT3y
— Natasha Ramsahai (@CityNatasha) February 16, 2022
All schools in York Region are closed for the day due to inclement weather and transportation services are also cancelled.
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board buses in Caledon and Dufferin County are also cancelled and schools will switch to remote learning for the day.
Peel District School Board buses are cancelled in Zone 3 and schools in Zone 3 are closed to students. Mississauga and Brampton zones are still running.
Buses are cancelled in zones 1, 2 and 3 for Durham District and Catholic school boards, buses are running in zone 4. For DDSB, elementary schools will remain open and econdary schools in the affected zones will switch to remote learning. Durham Catholic schools will remain open.
