TORONTO: Residents of Toronto woke up on Monday, November 11, 2025, to an early winter scene following a record-breaking snowstorm that shattered decades-old weather records.
The city received 9.8 centimeters of snow on Sunday, November 9, followed by additional snowfall overnight. According to Environment Canada, this was the heaviest snowfall recorded on November 9 in 54 years, surpassing the previous record of 1.5 centimeters set in 1971.
The combined snowfall over the two days represents the largest accumulation Toronto has seen at the start of the season since October 1981. “It’s a very rare event for this much snow to fall this early in the Toronto area,” said Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson.
Other cities in Ontario were also affected, with Hamilton recording 17 cm and Ottawa 12 cm of snow. The slick conditions resulted in over 200 vehicle crashes across the Greater Toronto Area, according to Ontario Provincial Police reports.
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City officials responded by deploying salt brine and prioritizing salting on major routes to ensure safety. Despite the early-season snow, temperatures are expected to rise gradually, reaching more moderate levels around Wednesday, November 12, with highs near the seasonal average of 8°C.
The storm serves as a stark reminder of early winter’s unpredictable arrival in southern Canada, causing disruptions but providing a picturesque snow-covered landscape for Toronto residents.