Toronto crews plow local roads after slow, slushy morning commute

Toronto residents hada slow, slushy commute on Monday morning after a significant snowfall overnight.

Environment Canada said between 14 to 16 centimetres of snow fell in Toronto from Sunday afternoon to early Monday morning.

Both the Toronto Police Serviceand Ontario Provincial Police reported multiple crashes overnight.

The city, meanwhile, said plowing of local roads is now underway.

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MeteorologistKellyHobelmansaid no more snow is expected but temperatures are expected to fall Monday night to5 C.

"We do not expect any additional accumulation," she said. "I'm sure lots of side roads this morning still need to be cleared. Everybody should give themselves some extra time to get to work today."

Hector Moreno, road operations manager for the city, said crews have plowed theexpressways andmultiple rounds have been done on arterial roads. Plowing of local roads began early Monday andshould be completed by Monday night.

"The challenge right now is getting into residential streets," he said. "It will take anywhere between 16 to 18 hours to complete."

Toronto police said they received reports of 54 crashes between midnight and 7:30 a.m. Monday.

Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said the OPP had received reports of more than 400crashes on Greater Toronto Area highways in a 24-hour period, roughly between 6:00 a.m. Sunday and 6:00 a.m. Monday.

Schmidt said that number is double the usual amount for a normal overnight Monday.

Sgt. Murray Campbell, spokesperson for Toronto Police Service's Traffic Services, said water pooledon highways in the city and causeddangerous driving conditions.

Campbelladvised drivers to slow down, take time to get to a destination and be aware of surroundings.

More than 120 arriving and departing flights were cancelled early Monday at Toronto's Pearson International Airportdue to the snowfall. Dozens of flights were delayed.

Travellers wereurged to check their flight times.

The city saidthat residents should consider postponing non-essential travel and take public transit when possible.

Anne Marie Aikins, spokesperson for Metrolinx, said GO Transit prepared for the major snowfall by bringing staff in early, calling in extra workers and readying train and bus platforms by either de-icing or heating where possible.

Toronto resident Justin Saithsaid he got up earlier than usual on Monday because of the snowfall.

"It wasn't too bad. It's a little slushy, a little bit slippery on some side streets. For the most part, the main roads are pretty clear," he said.

His advice? "Drive slow and don't start hydroplaning in the water puddles."