Published january 26, 2026 at 10:24 PM
The Queen City just experienced its snowiest day on record, waking up Monday morning under a blanket of snow exceeding half a meter in places.
In brief:
-
Absolute record at Pearson Airport: 46 cm in a single day;
-
Up too 56 cm accumulated in downtown Toronto;
-
Intense precipitation rates of 3 to 5 cm per hour.
The city buried
A historic winter storm hit southern Ontario on Sunday, making visibility almost nil at times and paralyzing the region. East winds blowing over Lake Ontario created a lake effect, intensifying precipitation. Snow fell at a frantic pace of 3 to 5 cm per hour, burying cars and roads.
The numbers are extraordinary. At Pearson International Airport (YYZ), 46 cm of snow was measured. This is officially the snowiest day ever recorded at that location since records began in 1938,breaking the previous record of 39.9 cm set on February 25, 1965.
## The March 1971 North American Blizzard
The March 1971 North American blizzard, often referred to as the “Storm of the Century” in some regions, was a severe winter storm that impacted a large portion of eastern North America, including Quebec and particularly the city of Montreal.
### The Storm’s Impact on Quebec and Montreal
The blizzard paralyzed Montreal for nearly a week and resulted in 17 fatalities in Quebec. The Canadian Encyclopedia details the storm’s unprecedented snowfall and wind gusts, leading to widespread disruption. The storm began on March 3rd and lasted until March 7th, 1971.
### Meteorological Details
The storm was characterized by exceptionally heavy snowfall, strong winds, and frigid temperatures. The National Weather Service describes the synoptic setup as a confluence of several factors, including a strong high-pressure system over eastern Canada and a deep low-pressure system tracking along the Atlantic coast. Montreal received approximately 42 cm (16.5 inches) of snow, but the primary issue was the blizzard conditions created by sustained winds exceeding 80 km/h (50 mph), leading to near-zero visibility.
### Response and Aftermath
The storm overwhelmed emergency services and infrastructure. Radio-canada’s archives document the widespread power outages,transportation shutdowns,and difficulties in providing essential services. The Canadian Armed Forces were deployed to assist with rescue efforts and deliver supplies to stranded communities. The event prompted reviews of emergency preparedness and infrastructure resilience in the region.
### Long-Term Meaning
The 1971 blizzard remains a benchmark for severe winter storms in eastern North America. It highlighted the vulnerability of urban centers to extreme weather events and spurred improvements in forecasting, warning systems, and emergency response capabilities. The storm continues to be referenced in discussions about climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather phenomena.
