Ontario braces for major winter storm, threatening holiday travel plans

Environment Canada says to avoid travel if possible as a winter storm bears down on Ontario, threatening holiday plans during one of the busiest travel times of the year.

The weather agency has placed most of Ontario under a warning or watch ahead of a major winter storm expected Friday and into the holiday weekend, as it forecasts damaging winds, possible flash freezes, and blizzard-like conditions.

In Toronto, Hamilton and Ottawa, the agency is calling for up to 15 centimetres of snow by Friday, and possible 90 km/h wind gusts.

In other parts of southern Ontario, overnight rain combined with plummeting temperatures into Friday could result in flash freezing conditions.

Environment Canada says starting Friday, a “crippling blizzard” could hit parts of southwestern Ontario, including Niagara and Owen Sound, bringing wind gusts up to 120 km/h and 15 to 30 centimetres of snow by Sunday.

The storm could add to the turmoil at airports during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year after a storm and extreme cold in Western Canada grounded hundreds of flights in Vancouver, Victoria and Calgary.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 22, 2022.