Toronto buried under record snowfall as downtown hit with 61 cm
Posted January 26, 2026 2:36 am.
Last Updated January 26, 2026 8:30 am.
Toronto awoke Monday to the aftermath of a once‑in‑a‑generation winter storm, a system that delivered record‑breaking snowfall, paralyzed transportation across the region, and forced widespread school closures from the GTHA.
Environment Canada’s updated snowfall analysis shows 61 cm fell in downtown Toronto, one of the highest totals ever observed in the core. The agency also confirmed 46 cm at Toronto Pearson Airport, marking the snowiest day on record for the site. Combined with earlier January snowfall, the storm pushed the city to its snowiest January — and snowiest month overall — since records began in 1937.
The accumulation at Pearson also pushed January 2026 into the history books. With 88.2 cm of snow now recorded this month, it is officially the snowiest January — and the snowiest month overall — since records began nearly 90 years ago.
Sunday’s now-record-setting storm intensified rapidly through the morning and afternoon, producing long stretches of near‑zero visibility as heavy snow combined with blowing snow, creating treacherous conditions on highways and residential streets.
Snowfall totals across southern Ontario: A look at the impact
Here is Environment Canada’s early‑morning tally, with amounts measured as of 10 a.m. on Monday unless otherwise noted.
| Location | Snowfall (cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto City Centre | 56 | *Estimated via automated sensors |
| Toronto Pearson Airport | 46 | — |
| Trenton | 43 | — |
| Ontario Storm Prediction Centre (Downsview) | 37 | — |
| Belleville | 35 | *Estimated via automated sensors |
| Vineland | 20 | *Estimated via automated sensors |
| Welland | 18 | *Estimated via automated sensors |
| London | 17 | — |
| Uxbridge | 17 | *Estimated via automated sensors |
| Harrow | 14 | *Estimated via automated sensors |
| Ottawa | 13 | — |
| Brockville | 13 | *Estimated via automated sensors |
| Peterborough | 12 | *Estimated via automated sensors |
| Brantford | 10 | *Estimated via automated sensors |
| Kingston | 10 | — |
| Delhi | 10 | *Estimated via automated sensors |
| Egbert | 5 | — |
| Moose Creek Wells | 5 | — |
GTHA snowfall totals
| Location | Snowfall (cm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Scarborough (South) | 65 | — |
| Toronto (Downtown) | 61 | — |
| Etobicoke (South) | 53 | *Estimated via automated sensors |
| Oakville | 50 | — |
| Brighton | 50 | *Estimated via automated sensors |
| Mississauga (South) | 49 | *Estimated via automated sensors |
| Burlington | 46 | *Estimated via automated sensors |
| Scarborough (East) | 35 | — |
| Vaughan | 28 | — |
| Oshawa | 12 | — |
| Aurora | 11 | — |
Environment Canada noted that 40 to 60+ centimetres fell across parts of Toronto, Mississauga, and the western GTA, making the storm one of the most intense single‑day snowfall events ever observed in the region.
Light flurries lingered Monday morning in the wake of the departing low‑pressure system. Toronto’s guaranteed high is -9 C, with a wind chill of -15, and mainly cloudy skies.
Tuesday will be mainly cloudy, with a high of -9 C. Scattered flurries are forecast citywide.
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