Near emergency-level snowfall in London, Ont.

A massive snow storm continues to blast parts of Ontario and Quebec. The city of London nearly declared a state of emergency. And the town of Lucan was hit hard with a staggering 144 centimetres of snow.

CTV Toronto: Austin Delaney reports

The little town of Beeton near Barrie has been buried by two days of lake-effect snowfall. Austin Delaney reports.

CTV Montreal: Montrealers buried under snow

The first big snow fall of the season left a lot of people across the province scrambling Tuesday morning and throughout the day. Derek Conlon reports.

CTV Southwestern Ontario: David Imrie on snow

Parts of southwestern Ontario continues to get blanketed with snow. Record breaking snowfall is clogging up roads in London, while other areas are measuring the snowfall in metres. Residents in the affected areas say this is the most snow they have seen in a long time.

CTV News Channel: Tony Grace on snowfall

A CTV correspondent in Barrie, Ontario says snow has come down very quickly has not stopped yet. Parts of Ontario will be covered with up to 110 centimetres of snow. However, police are surprised at how few problems there are on the road.

CTV Toronto: Dan MacLellan in London, Ont.

An 'A' News correspondent in the southern Ontario city says the amount of snow is unprecedented and the mayor has flirted with declaring a state of emergency.

CTV News Extended: London Mayor Joe Fontana

Speaking to an 'A' News reporter in London, Ont. Mayor Joe Fontana comments on snow in city after a city services meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010.

CTV Toronto Extended: Huge snowfall in Beeton, Ont.

The tiny Ontario town 75 km north of Toronto has up to 80 cm on the ground and the snow continues to fall Tuesday.

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Miranda Caldwell tries to find to locate her car under the snow in London, Ont., on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010. Classes at UWO have been cancelled for two days due to the snowfall.

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Tuesday Dec. 7, 2010 7:49 PM ET

The Ontario city of London nearly declared a state of emergency on Tuesday after being inundated with three days of flurries and record levels of snowfall, but stepped back from the drastic measure at the last moment.

"We are satisfied we're not in an emergency situation and we've got everything under control, although there is still a lot of snow and more coming," mayor Joe Fontana said Tuesday.

With the southern Ontario city coping with snowfall as high as one metre in some places, Fontana shut down most city services Tuesday and appealed for employers to send workers home wherever possible.

Fontana urged residents to stay home whenever possible and the check in on elderly family members and friends.

"Hopefully it is going to be just another 24 or 48 hours, but who knows what may happen in that 24 or 48 hours," Fontana told reporters. "We are ready and prepared, and we are just asking for everybody to pitch in and help each and every citizen of this city."

Environment Canada says some areas of London saw up to 80 centimetres of snow on Monday. Another 20 or 30 centimetres was projected to fall Tuesday. Yet another 10 centimetres is expected Wednesday.

In comparison, London only received a total of 108 centimetres of snow between December 2009 and March 2010.

London's single day record snowfall was 57 centimetres, set on this day in 1977.

Snow clearing crews stayed out through the day, working to keep main streets and bus routes open.

Transit officials announced that buses would be pulled off of the roads at 3 p.m. because too many were getting stuck in the massive amounts of snow.

Officials also said ambulances were getting stuck on the roads.

Environment Canada warned that snowfall totals in excess of one metre were expected in some area regions affected by the three-day storm.

"We could start asking the guy upstairs to take it easy on us a little bit and maybe spread it out around the province a little bit more than just London, Ont., and 20 miles east and west of us; that would be helpful," Fontana quipped.

London wasn't left entirely alone, however, as other parts of southwestern Ontario received comparable levels of snow.

Snow squall warnings have been announced for an area stretching from Durham County southwest to Sarnia.

The area surrounding Barrie and Collingwood will also get snow squalls and experience icy conditions that will make travel dangerous.

About 20 centimetres is expected to fall there Tuesday, with winds gusts of up to 50 km/h.

Southwestern Simcoe Country has declared Tuesday a snow day for all students.

Toronto, Waterloo and the Peel Region have not been included in the weather warning, but still experienced typical winter weather.

Toronto managed to escape all but a few traces during the region's third day straight day of snowfall.

Toronto saw a few flurries through the morning with the possibility of more in coming the afternoon.

As much as eight centimetres fell on parts of the city on Monday, which was spared the worst of a winter blast felt by much of southern Ontario.

Comments are now closed for this story

Rodney In Ontario
said

Man I hate winter....I knew we are going to pay for that mild winter we had last year!

Mike vdB - Chatham, ON
said

Nice, sunny, and cold in Chatham. No snow other than a few flakes here and there. Keep it in London please. :)

Scotty the BAIL
said

Dutton, ---25 miles west of London in the BANANA belt, ---wisps of snows on the grass and bright sunshine,---To all my clients that made it in to work today----I won't becoming to London until Joe F. cleans up his first challenge.

HAVE A NICE AND CHEERY DAY !!

Chris
said

A state of emergency? Oh you BIG suckies!
In case you haven't noticed you LIVE IN CANADA! Snow is as much as part of life as hockey is!

Put on your big boy snow pants and SUCK IT UP! Get your kiddies and toboggans and get out and love it!

It never fails to amaze me that some folks get their boxers all in a wad over some snow, and all the accidents that happen in the winter time, I mean its not like you haven't had many years of practice in it on how to drive in it or shovel it!

Enjoy it while we have it, as I am sure you will be the same people that are moaning when global warming takes it all away.

Chris
Bancroft, Ontario

Courtney
said

I am a viewer that lives in Alliston, Ontario and as of this morning we have received 81 cm of snow and it is still falling. I can understand why the mayor of London was about to issue a state of emergency.
I fully agree that we shouldn't be surprised at this storm because of where we live. However, with that being said, it is such a shock because of the amounts that we received in such a short period of time. Having a white Christmas is amazing, and we have had far too many Christmas's without snow.

Lisa Mackay
said

Chris are you kidding me?? Where in Canada have you ever lived that had 120cm of snow in less than 48hours that didn't shut down the city??????

I've lived in almost every province in Canada including northern Saskatchewan and I've never seen it....thoughts are with all you folks braving the dump!

christo
said

wow, up hear in Sudbury, there is verry little snow, strange !

Nathan
said

hahahahahah @Lisa, "braving the dump". Here's what i don't understand, kids love snow, the more of it the better. What happens between the age of 6 and 40 that makes people hate snow?? The fact you have an excuse not to go to work? The fact you have an excuse to go outside? It's almost like detesting snow is an "acquired taste" like olives and stuffed mushrooms.

Gord
said

Our former Snow CEO, Mel Lastman, just called in the Army, when T.O. got hit. But I think they're kinda busy in Afganistan these days and so that won't work.

Sara
said

I've lived in snow belts my entire life, and London in particular. For the most part, we can deal with the snow, the kids go out and play, people enjoy a "freebie" day from work, but, when transit is shut down and hospital and emergency workers having trouble getting to their jobs safely, a state of emergency is something not far off the mark. I can barely see my son's head over the snow piles, but, he's having a blast shovelling it and sliding down the hills behind our apt building :D

In Awe in Arva
said

A state of emergency is likely a bit overkill but I am sitting looking out windows as I type this with 6 foot snow drifts blocking my view. We have employees coming into work from Parkhill, Oil Springs and Dutton who all say the driving is quite pleasant until you are within 30km of London.
I say enjoy it! What's Christmas without snow!

CEC in London
said

Hey Chris. No need to sound so angry. It isn't the amount of snow that has fallen here, it's the short time-frame in which the amount of snow has fallen. The snow crews here simply can't keep up with the snowfall. That's all. When the snow stops, we'll clean up quite nicely, I'm sure.

MJC
said

For those who think this is a typical Canadian winter story consider that parts of the area have more than a meter of snow with more to come.

In fact, when all is said and done this storm may turn out to be one of the worst on record. I hope those shut in with no access to roads or transit can be as light hearted about this as those of you who are reveling in the pain of others.

Jen
said

Currently in London, the biggest dilemmas residents face are that the plows cannot clean the streets fast enough. Most small residential streets have been plowed only once since Sunday. The food bank has been shut down, and all the shelters are filled to capacity. Postal service is shut down, hospital workers are being transported by bus to and from work, and all public transit is shut down.
The university has shut down for the 3rd and 4th days in approximately 30 years.
We're still expecting another approximate 65 cm of snow over the next two days. For a city with a population of 350,000, this is a big deal.

Jon in London ON (the buckle of the snowbelt)
said

Relax........Joe F is just throwing around some new mayor rhetoric.......we'll be okay in a day or two.....plows came by early Monday morning and haven't seem them since.......but - damn - there is a LOT of snow here.......

Steph from London
said

Chris from Bancroft, your statement is a bit harsh. Yes, people do tend to complain too much when we get weather like this. It is Canada, and it should be expected that we get a lot of snow in the winter. However, there are many people living in London who need to be on the roads in conditions like this. Doctors, nurses, emergency workers, etc. are part of essential services to keep all residents of the city safe and healthy. I myself work in a home setting for adults with intellectual disabilities and it is necessary for staff to be there to keep those people safe and properly supported. Not everyone has a job with the luxury of staying home, putting on their "big boy snowpants" and playing all day. I think whatever the city needs to do to keep everyone safe is the best decision. You should be a little more thoughtful with your comments in the future.

emily k
said

I say close the schools for this week and next let us have and erly winter

ken
said

we live 45 min down the 401 bright and sunny here no trace of snow here

Lovin Winter
said

I love that kind of weather. Is it coming towards Manitoba ;)

Anti Elvis
said

Lisa Mackay: I do work on a frequent basis in Golden & Revelstoke, BC. The road signs hang from poles because it snowed in excess of 10 meters in an average year. 100 cms in a typical snowfall is common.

Folks in South Ontario are notorious whiners during winter. Like the "extreme cold weather alert" at -15C.

London Citizen
said

@Anti Elvis, I don't think that South Ontario are whiners.

Lets face it, the City of London has been experiencing unrelenting snow since Sunday, averaging 30cms per day. This community has over 300,000 people, and we are accustomed to snow. Specially snowsqualls coming off the near-by lakes. This event is certainly unlike anything else, and with it there are inherient dangers for everyone.

Lastly, comparing Revelstoke / Golden to London isn't exactly a good fit, the BC communities are located mountanious areas where evalaution does generate snow volume and frequency.

.... back to shoveling I go. :)

Chris
said

I think there should be another day off school...there is no way that all buses will be safe and even if they are most of the kids that have to walk to school will not go because of the terriable conditions. I think it would be safe and smart just to get everything cleaned up first then start opening schools, rinks, libraries and other public places.

dianne
said

of course snow is a part of winter as is hockey, but tonight we can't safely drive our children to hockey.

amy n
said

I think we shod get out of school this week and next so that we can have about a month or so for christmas brake

Christopher.
said

Hey Chris from Bancroft. I like your comment on the years of practice. I mean smarten up already. However you should look up global warming and it's effects on weather again. I heard someone say yesterday, "Where are all the plows?" The lady he was talking to said, "Everywhere." Everyone needs to be calm and realize there are 300 thousand people in this city. Not many of those citizens are snowplow drivers. Leave early for work. Your bubble is shared by everyone, whether you like it or not, so keep an eye out.

Tom
said

Why is East and West of London the only ones that are mentioned some of us North of London near Lucan are pretty much buried!!

Marg from London
said

Kudos to Fontana for at least asking employers/retailers in London to consider the impact they are having on the safety of our valued and essential services ( fire/ambulance/snow removal/hospital staff)The snow is coming down faster than the city can move it. That is the fact. It might be normal snowfall for other areas, but do they have the thousands of kilometers of roads requiring clearing? Are they a hub for medical care for an area as large as Southwestern Ontario? It is not that big of a request to expect that after 2 days of non stop snow,people would have prepared to just stay home and let the city do what it can without unnecessary vehicles for 1 day? For retailers to consider the community they are in and not their bottom line for one day?

Liz
said

Thanks Lisa Mackay for giving me yet another reason NOT to travel to BC. I have shovelled five times in the past two days and the piles are now so high I can't get anymore snow up there. They have just taken the buses off the road so people that did make it to work are stranded. The roads are sheer ice and snow covered. Your support is overwhelming!

LDL in the banana belt ONT
said

1. Some large cities simply cannot handle snow because there is no where to put it after a while. Blame in on poor planning and too many cars. So if you live somewhere other than a large City...........then how wonderful for you. You have a greater capacity to handle the excess snowfall. 2. I'm sorry I live in southwestern Ontario, and yes, -15 is cold to me. I'm below the 49th parallel that's just the way it is. It's call geography. If others want to call me a suck because I don't like -15 degrees......then your my hero, congratulations, you're far tougher than I.

Tim - London
said

Insane amount of snow in such a short time.... 4x4 is all you need in these conditions , and your fine... All you doctors and surgeons BUY 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, then you can get to work to save our asses!!! a dodge neon is not going to cut it in the snow belt!!

Will
said

So......given that this is going to be a bitterly cold winter with lots of snow throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and is the begining of a recognised global COOLING period as predicted by reputable climatologists and part of the ongoing cycle mapped in the climate and geologic record - does this mean the Anthropogenic Global Warming (climate change) fraud is finally over with? If so, has anyone told the weenies vacationing on the beach in Cancun to go home now????

Kim from Beeton
said

I live in Beeton and it's been pretty overwhelming with the amount of snow we've had with no break. It's been snowing since Saturday night non stop. While it is kind of fun it gets a little much shoveling. This certainly can't be easy on seniors and the disabled.

I hear we're not yet done either and that more is on it's way.

Sharon
said

As to a BC woman's comment. Southern Ontario rarely sees this kind of weather any more. It may have been like this many years ago, but now very rare. Most people are not use to this any more.

Let it Snow
said

Well said 'anti-Elivs'. This is normal folks. We are in the Christmas Season!! (no apologies if that reference offends thee). We are all big on being "Canadian" until it snows and blows. Enjoy! It's the land we live in.

neko-indi (London, ON)
said

Chris,While I'm having fun in the snow today (my day off), tomorrow, I have to go into work - no choice - I work at a residential facility for teens, and we're staffed 24/7.Given that yesterday, a snowplow was spinning its wheels on my street... well, I'm a bit worried about my little Corolla making it up the road!As many have said - it's not the amount - it's the amount in such a short time that's slowing us down.

How Much Is Enough
said

What is the emergency level? I couldn't find that in the article. How is that calculated?"We could start asking the guy upstairs to take it easy on us a little bit and maybe spread it out around the province a little bit more" Ya everybody becomes a believer when the storm hits LOL!!

Amanda
said

Other people need to realize that we are getting a meter of snow in 24-36 hours..not over the entire season. Yes, some places get more snow than we do but there is no need to call us "whiners" because of our response to what is happening. We are not used to see this much snow in this short amount of time. So to us, this is a pretty critical time. It's like when Texas called a state of emergency when they received a few cm of snow, or when Vietnam received snow for the first time in almost forever. Yes, we should be used to snow in Canada, but some areas just don't expect this much to fall in 2-3 days, and are unprepared for it. Please be mindful when submitting a comment.

Eric
said

It is not that the snow is bad, but the fact that no vehicles are prepared for the weather. On the radio early this morning, they stated that only 50% of the snow plows are operable due to the lack of people who can operate them. The snow is building up too quick for them to keep up. This may not be the next ice storm like in Kingston, but hell, this isn't the best weather.

Zeroth57
said

Anti Elvis: Winter in Golden is not the same as is London Ontario.

Population of Golden is 4,498 in 4.3 sq miles and the population of London Ontario is 457,720 at 1,030 sq miles (as per Wikipedia).

We have more dogs and cats than you have people. So life is different in all places in Canada. If you were experiencing severe weather concerns and your people were at risk, we here in Ontario would be a lot more respectful.

Rick in NB, Ste Marie
said

1-2 February 1992, Moncton, New Brunswick: A major winter storm blasts the Maritimes dumping 60-90 cm (2-3 feet) of snow across New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Moncton registers 163.7 cm (64 inches) of snow setting their all time single storm record.Please Google " The Weather Doctor's Diary " We've had some great storms in Canada

Brenden From Strathroy
said

Strathroy is getting hit too. I advise everyone to stay off 22. It's ugly out there.

Chris
said

Rebuttal!

OK my sincerest apologies to those who took offense to my comments as they were not intended to be insulting. It was more or less of a "enjoy it while it is here" as global warming is coming fast. I think some folks need to lighten up a little bit and see the way my comment was intended to be.

Chris
Bancroft

KJ
said

I don't hear any complaining here in London. So to say we're a bunch of whiners is a little bit unfair and generalizing. Seriously lighten up!The record in 1977 was 57cm for a single day and this was 80cm, and more in some other areas. The economy in London is doing very poorly, with very high unemployment, and the budget for snowplowing can't meet up with record snowfalls. But what place can handle record snowfalls anyway?No, a state of emergency was not called, so don't get YOUR tightie whities in a knot.

KG
said

There has been a lot of snow in London. I lived in Northern Ontario prior to here and have never seen snow this consistent. I do not think it is the quantity, as much as the constant flow though. You shovel it, then you continue to shovel it non stop. Great exercise!I am quite thankful that I was told not to come into work. I think the safest thing for all is to stay home and off the roads, unless it is an absolute necessity. The temperature is wonderful, so go outside and build a snow fort -- that is what my husband and I did! Enjoy it! Lots of people are outside walking around - it is great to see that!

steve
said

Re: The snow plows. I have a good friend at the city who drives plough. This friend tells me there are lots of drivers on call to man the ploughs. A lot of senior union drivers don't answer the phone because they get shift premiums or time and a half or double time on weekends. they keep going on down the call list until its exhausted. Drivers are called in order of there seniority.some of them will work two or three days on the weekend and then take the rest of the week off still making the same $ as a full week.Meanwhile buses, ambulances etc cant get around. Overpaid, underworked and selfish There's a story for you.

Ben from London
said

There are several problems that led to the almost state of emergency. The first being that last year London recieved a total of 108 cm of snow for the entire winter and we have recieved 90+ cm in just 3 days. The second issue is that we are not running all of the snow plows. Currently there is only enough staff to run at 50% capacity. Honestly it's not that bad, besides the people that are driving like nothing is on the ground. Fontana needs to close the city tomorrow and have the plows clear all the roads and sidewalks.

AB
said

Of course you know if the army gets called in, nobody can laugh at Toronto any more!

Ex Montréaler in Markham
said

I've been here 30 years and am still waiting for winter. mind yuo what tjhe snow belt is getting is a good start...The actual problem with that much snow is the fact we are still trying to plow it. Just let it pile up and flatten it down with weights like the old days. If you must remove it, use a snow blower and toss it far from the road. In Montréal, not all streets get plowed, most only get a blowing if there is more than 6 inches... You can skate down the street!

Ronald
said

Bring it on, I will not run to the airport for Cuba, Jamaica,or Mexico. I am a real Canadian and I can take it, but if one of you has any 40,000.00 I could leave I just dont have the money to escape please give!!!!!!

Cathy M
said

I live an half hour west of London and we have had nothing. Sunshine that is all be been getting. It brings back memories of the storm that hit London back in the 70's

danya
said

I love this kind of weather.I wish we can get that here in ottawa.

VOA
said

I really wish some of the snow would spread over to Chattam, Windsor etc rather than concentrating in London. Thank God I got a big snow thrower last winter but was almost blaming myself for getting it bcos it was too big. Now, with what we've had in the last 2 days, I couldnt be happier with this snow eater. My neighbours' machines couldnt handle their drive way, particularly the entrance, so my snow throw is the local champion now in the neighbourhood. Its all fun, but I think the fun should spread to other places

howard callahan
said

no snow in newfoundland yet, knock on wood.

London Shoveller
said

Hello Golden BC. Last time i checked its normal for you to have tonnes of snow. But i challenge you to have RECORD amounts of snow fall in 24 hours and then listen to people tell you you're a whiner. You see, it doesn't matter how much snow fell, its a record therefore not normal. As for it being cold at -15, yes its cold and the windchill off the lakes makes it -30, and thats colder. This is Southern Ontario not B.C. Look at a map, you're much farther north. So when its 45 next summer with the Humidex, I'll be thinking of you in Golden BC.

Darlene
said

Really! I think that we all should go through what London is going through just to get a little wake up call on what snow really can do! Then try calling for an ambulance for someone who is in dire need of help to find out that mother nature is a lot stronger than you think. I know that my post probably won't make a difference to most people but if it makes one person think then that makes it worth while. By the way I am not bashing on anyone here. Have a great evening! :)

Not so golden bc
said

Hello out there in golden bc. a bit of fact checking shows that the single day snowfall record in Golden is a whopping 58cm back in 1918. London had that much in 1977, and then 80 cm in a single day yesterday. I seriously contemplate if anyone in Golden BC was whining about the snowfall in 1918? And i agree with a previous poster, how many roads are there in Golden compared to London?

Rick @ Ottawa
said

What are all you city-slickers going to do when the world goes to hell in a hand-basket. Don't look to your rural cousins for help - we'll all be doing just find with our gas guzzling 4X4's and wood stoves where we burn many trees. Have a nice day.

Rick in Edmonton
said

Man, I miss snow days...we just get a lot of -25 (or worse) in Edmonton. But it's a dry cold... LOL .Not nearly as much fun though. And I remember that one in '77.

Alex
said

@Chris
There is no Global warming!!!!. Its another reason for govmnt to tax its citizen and tell them what to buy, what to do, what not to do ..etc

its a conspiracy and ppl/corporation behind it made millions if not billions of money

Andrew
said

Why hasn't the Army been called in? I'm serious!

Janice
said

I think what you have to remember before you start refering to Southern Ontarians as whiners is that cities who experience a large amount of snow on a regular basis are equiped to handle it. London is not. When this type of weather hits all at once, it is a rarity, which means there are not enough city ploughs and almost no one has a snow blower or vehicle that his up to the task. The fact is, vehicles are getting stuck, accidents are happening and its not safe.

John Brewer
said

All that snow down south and here in the northwest my snowblower is siezing up from non use. We never get to have any fun.

Leah
said

I can certainly understand the concerns people have about getting around safely with that much snow on the ground. When I was only 6 we lived through the blizzard of 1977. Talk about snowfall amounts. We could no longer find homes let alone cars. Everyone was stranded. The dig out was monumental.
Leah
Port Colborne

brett
said

Is there where us West Coasters get to pipe in with our 'pffft... Easterners... so afraid of a little snow'.:-p

Michael in London
said

As a current resident of London and a prior resident of Toronto I find it kind of funny all the people with their back up when people try to belittle this event. Are these the same Londoners who laughed at Torontoians when we brought in the army? haha. We are all wimps to somebody else out there.

David J
said

@Chris... "global warming" -- or more properly, "climate change" is more likely to bring more heavier snowfalls in the future, because the Great Lakes are warmer, and more moisture is picked up by the colder winter winds.

Sam C
said

In 1995 we had 1 metre of snow in one night here in the Sault -- it paralyzed the city and contributed to the collapse of a roof at a local mall. A very unusual occurrence, to be sure! Many northern communities are ready for heavy snowfall, but not that much!