Toronto Digs Out: A City Slowed but Not Stopped by Record Snowfall

A person rides an electric scooter though downtown Toronto as a winter storm moves through the region, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.

A powerful winter storm buried the Greater Toronto Area under towering drifts overnight, forcing widespread school closures and creating major travel disruptions across the region. Plows worked around the clock to clear key routes, but many neighbourhood streets remained difficult to navigate as residents woke to what some described as “the biggest snowfall in years.”

School boards in Toronto, Peel, York, and Durham announced closures early in the morning, citing unsafe road conditions and limited bus service. Many parents scrambled to adjust their schedules, while students embraced an unexpected day off.

Commuters faced equally tough conditions. Highways moved at a crawl, with visibility reduced by blowing snow and lanes narrowed by deep accumulation. Public transit saw delays as buses struggled through unplowed streets and some GO Transit routes operated on modified schedules.

City crews emphasized that cleanup efforts would take time, given the sheer volume of snow. Residents were urged to stay home if possible and give plows room to work.

Despite the challenges, the storm also brought moments of community spirit. Neighbours helped dig out cars, kids built towering snow forts, and the city—though slowed—showed its familiar resilience in the face of winter’s toughest punch.