A Durham winter travel warning has been issued by Ontario Provincial Police as cleanup efforts continue following a record-breaking snowstorm that hit the Greater Toronto Area over the weekend.
OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt urged drivers to avoid travel on Monday where possible, warning that highways and roads across Durham Region remain hazardous despite ongoing snow removal.
Police say officers responded to approximately 200 collisions across the GTA during Sunday’s snowfall, along with about 150 calls for service involving vehicles stuck in snowbanks, downed in ditches, or requiring tow assistance.
According to Schmidt, snowplows continue to clear major routes, but progress has been slowed by the sheer volume of accumulated snow.
“The shoulders are covered, the ramps are still treacherous and in many cases you still cannot see the lane markings on the highways,” Schmidt said in a statement posted online Monday morning.
He added that side streets, residential roads, and driveways across Durham Region remain difficult to navigate, making travel especially challenging for commuters.
Police are advising motorists in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, and Pickering to delay travel if possible and to use extreme caution if driving is unavoidable, as road conditions may change throughout the day.
