Parts of Ontario could be walloped with up to 50 cm of snow

A massive Great Lakes winter storm is expected to slam parts of Ontario with strong winds and potentially bury some communities under as much as 50 centimetres of snow, despite the start of spring being just days away. 

According to The Weather Network, central and northeastern Ontario will be hit the hardest as the icy system moves through the province, bringing with it intense snowfall, slippery precipitation, and hazardous travel conditions through Monday and into early Tuesday. 

The most severely impacted communities, including Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, and Kirkland Lake could see snowfall totals reach 40 to 50 centimetres, coupled with strong wind gusts between 50 and 90 km/h. Surrounding areas such as Kapuskasing and Sudbury could see as much as 30 centimetres of snow.

Monday morning, over 2,000 kilometres of highways were closed in the northeast portion of the province, and Highways 11, 17, 101, 129, 144, and 631 will continue to be impacted. 

Significant Weather Event – Dufferin County
A Significant Weather Event has been declared across Dufferin County due to hazardous winter weather and deteriorating road conditions.
Heavy snowfall and reduced visibility are creating dangerous travel conditions throughout the… pic.twitter.com/RB5gSFJpkP

— OPP Central Region (@OPP_CR) March 15, 2026

Extreme wind gusts in northeastern communities will continue throughout Monday, leading to blowing and drifting snow as well as hazardous travel conditions. By Monday evening, however, snowfall is expected to slow down, although temperatures will plummet in return, with wind chills reaching the -20s in the north. 

Here in Toronto, rainy conditions throughout Monday afternoon will shift to snow overnight. Total snowfall accumulation in the GTA is expected to range anywhere from three to five centimetres, although surrounding areas could see localized amounts anywhere from 10 to 25 centimetres. 

The Weather Network warns that "frozen surfaces from rapidly dropping temperatures and refreezing puddles may lead to slick and hazardous conditions," so if you're planning on heading out today, make sure to set aside some extra time for travel. 

On Monday afternoon, Toronto will see a high of 12 C with light snow to follow in the evening. By Tuesday morning, temperatures will drop sharply to -9 C, although it'll feel much colder (-19 C) with the wind chill. 

There is also a possibility of more snow later in the week, with the current seven-day forecast for Toronto predicting scattered flurries on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. After a rough week of weather, temperatures will climb to a more comfortable range on Friday, when Toronto is expected to see a daytime high of 5 C.