Designated snow routes off limits as Toronto begins snow removal process

Toronto residents are being warned about where they park Monday with crews expected to begin removing all the snow that has piled up along city streets.

A “major snowstorm condition” is still in effect — meaning residents will need to move their vehicles off of designated snow routes or risk getting ticketed. The city made the declaration on Saturday and says it is in effect for 72 hours, but can be extended depending on how much snow needs to be removed.

Toronto Transportation anticipated over the weekend that snow removal efforts would begin late Monday “after plowing operations have concluded.”

The designated snow routes are primarily located in the downtown core and include all streetcar routes. Police say vehicles parked on these routes will be towed and drivers face a fine of up to $200.

The city has put up temporary orange emergency signs along some of the routes to warn drivers. A full list of all impacted streets can be found here.

Designated snow routes

(Source: City of Toronto)

Large snow piles left in the wake of the city’s snow clearing will be the target of the snow removal efforts. The city has opened four designated snow dump sites to truck the piles that have built up in certain areas.

The city took an “all hands on deck” approach after the intense storm dropped nearly 30 centimetres of snow from late Friday into Saturday morning. Toronto Transportation says more than 1,000 pieces of equipment – including salters, plows, sidewalk machines – were deployed.

It was the biggest snowstorm of the year so far to hit the GTA. The heavy dumping of wet snow forced Pearson airport to close a number of its runways and cancel nearly 40 per cent of flights during the storm.

The storm was also responsible for the phenomenon known as ‘thundersnow’ which is snow accompanied by a mix of thunder and lightning.