Toronto commuters faced a slippery Wednesday morning as an Alberta clipper brought fresh snowfall and hazardous travel conditions to the region. While the worst of the storm has passed for the city center, lingering impacts and the threat of more significant snowfall loom.
Here’s what you need to know about the winter weather affecting the Greater Toronto Area.
- The snowfall warning for Toronto has been lifted, but remains in effect for parts of southern Durham Region.
- Up to 10 centimetres of snow fell on Wednesday, with eastern parts of the GTA seeing the highest accumulations.
- Environment Canada says the snow will taper off Wednesday afternoon or evening.
- Bitterly cold temperatures are expected to persist throughout the week, with another potential snowstorm on the horizon for Sunday.
What’s the current situation with the snow in Toronto? The city of Toronto is no longer under a snowfall warning as of 2:42 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, but areas within the southern Durham Region remain under an advisory. Environment Canada warns that even as the snow diminishes, it could still affect the evening commute.
Hazardous Travel Conditions Reported
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The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) reported disruptions to bus service at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, with buses bypassing stops along Dufferin Street near Davenport Road due to weather conditions. A post on X (formerly Twitter) from @TTCnotices confirmed the service alteration.
29 Dufferin: Buses are not stopping near Dufferin St at Davenport Rd North Side due to weather conditions.
— TTC Service Alerts (@TTCnotices) January 21, 2026
Snowfall Totals Vary Across the GTA
Snowfall amounts varied significantly across the Greater Toronto Area. Geoff Coulson, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, explained at 11 a.m. Wednesday that eastern areas will experience heavier accumulations. “As we get into Scarborough, Pickering, Oshawa, Whitby, those areas are likely looking at closer to 10 centimetres,” he said. Downtown and western parts of the GTA likely saw around five centimetres, with lake-effect snow continuing to contribute to localized heavier amounts.
Coulson also noted the possibility of flurries in Toronto on Thursday, adding that the broader weather pattern will be characterized by colder-than-normal conditions. Another system is being monitored for Sunday, potentially bringing 10 to 20 centimetres—or even more—of snow to the region.
Road Conditions and Safety Concerns
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Sergeant Kerry Schmidt reported snow falling north of Toronto at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, warning of blowing snow and reduced visibility for drivers. Salters were deployed in Mississauga at 12 p.m. to address ongoing flurries.
Cold Temperatures and Ice Safety
Toronto police issued a warning at 7 a.m. Wednesday regarding unstable ice conditions along Lake Ontario and within the Toronto Harbour. Fluctuating temperatures and wind have prevented consistent ice formation, making any new ice particularly dangerous.
School bus services were unaffected Wednesday, with both the Toronto public and Catholic school boards confirming buses were running and schools remained open as of 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The cold snap continues, with a high of -1 C expected in Toronto on Wednesday, feeling like -16 C with the wind chill. While Wednesday is the warmest day of the week, temperatures will plummet to a high of -11 C on Saturday. CP24 Meteorologist Bill Coulter noted that the current system is just the beginning, with another potentially more significant snowfall event possible on Sunday.
Environment Canada’s forecast for Wednesday indicates that the Alberta clipper will create slippery roadways and reduced visibility during the morning commute. The snow is expected to ease throughout the afternoon and evening, but travel will likely remain challenging.
