Significant winter storm slams southern Ontario

Monday, December 12, 2016, 7:21 PM - A significant winter blast made for rough travel Sunday night into Monday, as some communities received their first doses of snow so far this season, while others saw additions to snowpiles left from lake-effect snow events earlier in December.

WINTER IS HERE: With La Niña helping shape global patterns what will Canadians expect from winter? Find out with The Weather Network’s 2016 Winter Forecast | FORECAST & MAPS HERE

The last of the snowfall warnings and special weather statements had dropped by the afternoon, after covering much of the province overnight as the snow began Sunday afternoon.

By the time all was said and done, widespread totals of 15-30 cm were left in the province, with even parts of the GTA receiving more than 15 cm. The province's southwest was the hardest hit with near 30 cm in Windsor and up to 20 cm in London, though even Ottawa, far to the east, picked up 19 cm.

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The OPP reported more than 400 collisions over the course of 24 hours across the south of the province, and numerous delays in bus and rail service were reported, including some GO Transit lines. Pearson Airport reported more than 100 flight cancellations by 8:30 a.m., with many more delays also.

Several school bus delays and some school closures were also reported in some district.

What's to follow

As the system departs the region, cold air filtering in behind should allow for at least some lake effect streamers to linger through Monday and Tuesday. 

Then all attention will turn to a major Arctic outbreak lining up for the middle and end of next week, bringing bitterly cold temperatures to much of the country.

And after that, forecasters are eyeing a Colorado low that has some potential to bring still more snow, depending on how things shape up.

Read a full analysis of the week ahead from forecaster Brett Soderholm here