Toronto declared a "major snowstorm condition," but what is that exactly?

The City of Toronto is still cleaning up after last week's major snowfall event

After any significant snowfall, the City of Toronto may declare a "major snowstorm condition," and that means ignoring a "snow route" sign could cost you up to a $200 fine.

According to city officials, "During the 'major snowstorm condition,' parking on snow routes is prohibited for 72 hours to allow for snow removal. All snow routes are clearly signed, are primarily in the downtown core, and include all streetcar routes."

City of Toronto Tweet: Snow removal fines

(Photo credit: City of Toronto/Twitter)

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This declaration gives snow removal operations the time to clear the snow that is restricting traffic flow, interfering with pedestrians, parking, and obstructing street lines. Typically, snow removal takes place during the daytime from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. 

You can find a map and a list of streets that can be impacted by 'major snowstorm conditions' on the City of Toronto’s website. For further details on what this declaration means for residents, watch the video that leads this article.