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Toronto should expect strong winds and fog Monday that could impact travel and disrupt services, Environment Canada says.
Environment Canada has upgraded its special weather statement to a yellow warning for wind, with gusts from 70 to 90 km/h expected to start Monday morning.
Local utility outages are possible, as well as damage to roofs, fences, branches and soft shelters. Environment Canada recommends securing loose objects.
Fog is also expected on Monday morning, according to Environment Canada.
“Be prepared for areas of near-zero visibility and allow extra time to reach your destination,” the alert says.
The winds come as a strong cold front passes through. Environment Canada said areas with ice accretion from freezing rain will be most vulnerable.
Toronto was under a freezing rain warning and rainfall warning from Environment Canada on Sunday which called for 20 and 40 millimetres of rain.
Ice accretion or build-up between two to five millimetres on some surfaces was also anticipated, Environment Canada’s warning stated.
Northbound lanes of Highway 400 were closed Sunday afternoon from Major Mackenzie Drive W. to Lloydtown-Aurora Road due to icy conditions and multiple collisions, but the highway reopened just after 3 p.m., the Ontario Provincial Police said on social media.
The weather agency recommends clearing storm drains of snow and ice if possible, avoiding low-lying areas and staying away from rivers, creeks and culverts.
Water levels may rise, authority says
In a statement Sunday, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority said water levels may rise as a result of the rainfall.
“The ground in TRCA watersheds is frozen which will stop rain and melted snow from soaking in and makes more water run into rivers,” the TRCA said.
“All shorelines, rivers, and streams in TRCA jurisdiction should be considered dangerous as this rainfall may cause rapidly changing conditions in TRCA rivers,” said the TRCA.
City advises caution, opens warming centres
The City of Toronto has advised residents to travel with caution and consider taking public transit because of slippery conditions.
City crews are salting roads and sidewalks, as well as clearing leaves from sewers and catch basins, per a news release Sunday.
The city has also asked that people clear leaves blocking sewers if it’s safe to do so in order to help prevent flooding.
The city has opened five warming centres for unhoused residents at the following locations:
- 136 Spadina Rd.
- 81 Elizabeth St.
- 349 George St.
- 12 Holmes Ave.
- 885 Scarborough Golf Club Rd.
Flight delays, cancellations
According to Toronto Pearson’s flight statistics on Sunday, 11 per cent of departing flights and 25 per cent of arriving flights were delayed. Three per cent of departing flights and seven per cent of arriving flights were also cancelled at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
In a post to social media, the airport said it doesn’t expect major disruptions from Sunday’s weather but that passengers should check their flight status prior to making their way to the airport and allow extra time when travelling to Pearson.
“We’re monitoring the weather as rain and freezing rain move across the Greater Toronto Area,” Toronto Pearson said in the post. “Aircraft departing Pearson today may pass through our Centralized Deicing Facility before takeoff,” the post said.
Toronto Pearson spokesperson Sean Davidson added crews are keeping runways, taxiways and aprons safe for operations.
Eight Porter flights have been cancelled at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and another 12 are delayed.
In a statement to CBC Toronto, Porter said flights are primarily affected due to the ongoing weather conditions.
“Flights are also being added, where possible, to assist passengers,” Porter said.
