Image: Icicles on the building across from my home

Toronto is one of Canada’s southernmost cities, so it doesn’t get as cold as many other places, but winter can still be quite harsh for those who are not accustomed to it, with plenty of snow and temperatures that can sometimes drop to -30°C. Our winter was mild last year, but this year it came back with a vengeance! 

Last weekend, a huge storm dumped up to 80 cm of snow on some parts of Ontario, and while Toronto got a bit less than that, it was still enough to close roads, bury cars, and cause plenty of cancellations and headaches! So, what happens to a city like Toronto when temperatures drop and tons of snow falls in a short time?

Overhead hazards: Toronto has many tall buildings that pose a threat to pedestrians walking beneath them in the winter. Large icicles (like the ones in the picture above) and sheets of snow and ice can fall from above and cause serious injuries. Also, some people who clean their balconies in the winter may carelessly dump snow on those below them. So, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out (and up!) for potential dangers and avoid walking beneath them!

Commuter headaches: While main streets are generally plowed and salted quickly and maintained well, it may take longer for smaller side streets and residential streets to be cleared. Until a street is plowed, it may be nearly impossible to drive on it, and in extreme cases, it may take up to a week for it to be plowed. After the most recent storm, the City of Toronto estimated that it would take up to three weeks to completely clean up the snow. Of course, all above ground public transit is also affected, though buses still tend to run even in the worst conditions, albeit with reduced schedules. School buses, however, are usually cancelled if road conditions are unsafe. Bike lanes basically disappear as snow plows use them as an area to push snow into. As a result, cyclists may use traffic lanes, but this becomes quite dangerous (yes, some people do still use bicycles in the winter here!). Finally, most sidewalks become very narrow, with only enough space to walk single-file. So, when someone is walking toward you in the opposite direction, you may need to stop and move aside to let them pass.

Digging out: If you live in a house, you are responsible for clearing the area in front of your home within 24 hours of the end of the snowfall. This can be a bit of a challenge, though, if a snowplow has cleared your street and pushed a big pile of snow onto your driveway! You’ll need a snow shovel and/or snowblower to clean your driveway, dig your car out, and clear the sidewalk in front of your home. This can be quite hard on your body in cold conditions, and elderly people in particular are advised not to strain themselves while shoveling snow.