Schools Closed, Drivers Told to Stay Home as Snow Storm Blows Into Southern Ontario

Commuters make their way to their destinations on King Street East amid heavy snowfall and accumulation as snow and heavy winds continue to hammer the Greater Toronto Area, in Toronto, Jan. 15, 2026. The Canadian Press/Giordano Ciampini

Schools have been closed, highways are blocked, and flights are delayed as a winter storm blows through southern Ontario, causing chaos.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued several alerts for Ontario, including Toronto, saying an estimated 20 to 35 centimetres of snow is expected.

“A low pressure system will continue to bring significant snowfall to much of southern Ontario,” ECCC said, adding that cold winds are adding to the weather conditions.

The weather agency warned of reduced visibility and blowing snow, adding that the storm was expected to taper off in the late afternoon.

Sgt. Ed Sanchuk with the Ontario Provincial Police West has advised drivers to stay home.

“That’s going to be the best place for you,” he said in a video posted to the X platform.

Sanchuk said all eastbound lanes on Highway 401 between Elgin road and Putnam road have been closed due to motorists and transport truck operators getting stuck and becoming stranded on the Putnam Hill, adding the road was a “sheet of ice.”

“If you do need to travel, make sure that your vehicle is full of gas, ensuring that you have maybe an emergency kit, food, water, candles, charged cell phone in the event that you do break down or you’re stuck in traffic,” Sanchuk said.

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) said it has activated its winter weather plan, which includes adding extra employees and maintenance workers to spread salt, clear snow, and keep signals, switches, and overhead power operating.

The transit commission said it has also engaged other measures to provide service continuity, such as running anti-icing trains to clear rail tracks, spraying anti-icing on the streetcar overhead, and on the ground at all bus, streetcar, and subway divisions.

Some flights are delayed out of Toronto Pearson Airport and travellers have been advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport.

“Air traffic management initiatives are in place due to weather conditions, impacting some arriving and departing flights at Toronto Pearson,” the airport said on X, adding that snow clearing operations are underway.

In a subsequent post the airport said 12 centimetres of snow accumulation had been recorded as of 9 a.m.

School Closures

All schools in Toronto have been closed due to the weather. The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said that administrative buildings and sites are also closed, as well as before and after school programs in public schools.

The Toronto Catholic District School Board said that the decision to close schools was not made lightly.

“We recognize that this may cause inconvenience for families and appreciate your understanding and flexibility,” the school board said in a statement on its website.

Several other school boards have also closed their schools, including in York, Peel, and Halton regions. The University of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University, and York University have all closed their campuses.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said snow crews were already working to keep roads clear and would be working “non-stop over the next few days.”

“Right now, about 1,300 staff and contractors are working on the snow response,” Chow said in a post on X. She said that staff was being redeploying from other divisions.

The Canadian Press contributed to this article.