Heavy snowstorm and frigid temperatures prompt flight cancellations and delays

Hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed Sunday as Toronto was hit with a blizzard and temperatures so bone-chilling that the city urged residents to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel.

“We are a caring city, a city that supports each other and cares for each other. So if you see someone being stuck … if you notice that people are having difficulty, give them a hand,” Mayor Olivia Chow told a news conference Sunday afternoon.

Environment Canada predicted Toronto could get over 50 centimetres of snowfall Sunday. Eastern Canada was bracing for a similar snowfall, as the storm moved through Ontario.

The snowfall paired with powerful winds continued throughout afternoon in Durham Region east of Toronto.

Oshawa, Ont., resident Sai Lin, who was waiting at a bus stop said the weather was “overwhelming.”

“It’s hurting. It’s freezing right now,” Lin said in an interview inside a bus shelter. “It’s all wobbling around, so it’s like very difficult to walk.”

But John Tumbas who lives in Whitby, Ont., said the snowfall has not been as bad as the forecasters predicted and the weather didn’t disrupt his daily routine.

“I was outside shovelling my driveway, and then there wasn’t a lot of snow,” he said in an interview at a Tim Hortons. “So, then I decided, you know what, I’m just gonna go out, so … I went to Oshawa for a little bit of shopping.”

The City of Toronto said it activated its second major snow event response plan of the year, and made several other declarations to deal with the weather event.

City manager Paul Johnson said the declarations prohibit parking on some major routes as well as streetcar routes. He said it was likely going to be a couple of days before snow is cleared all the way to the curb, and that people should give themselves more time to get where they are going on Monday.

“I would say (Monday) is going to be a challenge to move around. We’re going to do our best to get the expressways and arterials open and clear as best we can. Transit is our priority to keep operating,” Johnson told the city’s news conference, alongside the mayor.

Chow noted there is a reserve in the city’s budget to cover the costs of the snow clearing. Anyone who needs help from the city can call 311, she said.

“If you need help, hopefully your neighbour can provide support, but definitely we can — the City of Toronto,” Chow said.

The Toronto District School Board said all of its schools, sites and administrative buildings, including child care centres, would be closed for students and most staff on Monday. The York Catholic District School Board and the Peel District School Board made similar announcements, and rescheduled exams for secondary students.

The frigid temperatures caused by a polar vortex blanketed much of Canada in recent days as some areas experienced wind chill temperatures into the -40s.

In Edmonton, a weather alert wasn’t in place Sunday afternoon and locals got a brief break from the cold snap as temperatures hovered around -20 C.

“It was chilly (yesterday) but people were still out here,” said Ty Harvey, a snowboard instructor at the Edmonton Ski Club.

“I had two lessons. Kids were happy to be out here. They dressed warm and so did I because it was a little painful to be outside for more than half an hour …Today is a lot better.”

Dana Stringer, who along with his son visited Edmonton from Toronto to watch a hockey game over the weekend, said they weren’t too surprised by the frigid temperatures.

“It’s cold in Toronto but it’s even colder here,” Stringer said. “It’s great. I love the cold weather. We love our proper Canadian winter.”

Severe cold weather also led to flight delays or cancellations at most of Canada’s major airports.

More than 60 per cent of more than 900 flights arriving and departing Toronto Pearson International Airport were cancelled between Saturday and Sunday, according to the airport’s website. Another 10 per cent were delayed.

Flight-tracking site FlightAware said more than 500 flights were cancelled at Pearson airport Sunday.

Airport authorities across the country advised passengers to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport as the storm was impacting flight operations.

The City of Toronto said in a social media post that road conditions were poor.

“If required to go out, give yourself extra time to get around and consider taking public transit as there could be slippery conditions and delays,” the post said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 25, 2026.