A big belt of winter weather is headed to the GTA, including Toronto, on Tuesday.
A winter storm warning is in effect ahead of a system that’s threatening near white-out conditions for part of the morning rush, and snowy and icy roads for the trip home.
Environment Canada forecasts a combination of 15 to 25 centimetres of snow and ice pellets, along with possible freezing rain.
The agency said strong easterly winds of 40 km/h gusting to 70 km/h will cause reduced visibility in blowing snow, with stronger wind gusts up to 80 km/h possible near the shores of Lake Ontario.
There will be quite a mix of weather on the way.
“Snow, at times heavy, will mix in with some ice pellets for the early afternoon and then freezing rain for the late afternoon — around 4 o’clock — and then rain tonight,” a meteorologist explained.
“It’ll be mainly freezing rain for Niagara and areas to the southwest and mainly snow to the east.”
The impending weather caused several school closures across the GTA.
George Brown College will be closed all day — including services such as libraries, and the school’s child care centres.
All campuses of Centennial College will be closed for the day.
As well, Ryerson University is closed today. This includes all classes, university-run events, research labs, business services and administrative operations. Student residences remain open.
A number of school bus cancellations are also in effect.
City of Toronto has prepared its salt trucks to hit the streets on Tuesday morning.
The TTC is advising commuters to allow for extra time for their morning commute, as service may be slower than usual with the weather.
Pearson airport is also reminding travellers to confirm flight status with the airline before leaving home, as delays and cancellations are expected.
Schools that will be closed are:
Schools under the Toronto District School Board, The Toronto Catholic District School Board, Peel District School Board, DPCDSB, The Halton District School Board, Halton Catholic District School Board, HWDSB, HWCDSB, U of T Mississauga, University of Toronto Scarborough, York University, Ryerson University , Seneca College, Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Humber College, George Brown College, Centennial College.
Bus cancellations include York Region District School Board, The York Catholic District School Board, Durham Student Transportation Services, buses at STSCO, SCSTC.
UPDATE SCHOOLS CLOSED: @tdsb @TCDSB @PeelSchools @DPCDSBSchools @HaltonDSB @HCDSB @HWDSB @HWCDSB @UTM @UTSC @yorkuniversity @RyersonU @SenecaCollege @sheridancollege @humbercollege @GBCollege @CentennialEDU BUS CANCELLATIONS: @YRDSB @ycdsb @DurhamSTS @stsco_ca @SCSTC_SchoolBus.
— Jaime Pulfer (@Pulfer680News) February 12, 2019