Wednesday February 13, 2008
CityNews.ca Staff
The good news is, the snow has stopped. The bad news is, you have to shovel it.
For the third time this month a major snowstorm left a blanket of white on city streets and sidewalks. It was initially forecast to be a minor system with only five to 10 centimetres left on the ground but when all was said and done most areas received about 20 centimetres.
City snow plows and salters worked feverishly to get the major streets and highways cleared. According to reports the snowbanks were up to five feet high on some side streets with all the buildup from the two previous storms. Residents and businesses are reminded that under a City of Toronto bylaw they have 12 hours after a storm to clear their sidewalks or face a $105 fine.
Fortunately it appeared there were fewer delays to report on Wednesday. GO trains seemed to be running more or less on time, following recent problems with frozen switches that caused delays, although GO buses were slightly delayed, likely due to the poor road conditions. For more info visit GO Transit Home Page.
There were a few delayed or cancelled arrivals at Pearson International Airport Wednesday however. It's always smart to check with your airline before heading to the airport - you can find your flight status at Greater Toronto Airports Authority - Home.
The CAA was reporting wait times of 45 minutes for light service like boosts and lockouts, and 60 minutes for a tow.
And it's not over yet. At least four to seven additional centimetres may come down on Friday, and forecasters are warning about the possibility of 'another significant snow event' - maybe as much as another 20 cm - on Sunday into Monday.
This isn't the all-time snow record for the month. That goes back to 1846, when the city received 117 centimetres in just 28 days.