As a weather system threatens to bring a messy mix of snow, ice pellets, and freezing rain to the Greater Toronto Area today, Toronto Pearson International Airport has shifted to a reduced schedule after cancelling several flights in advance yesterday (17FEB). Crews are also on standby to treat and clear the airfield as conditions deteriorate.
“It’s an all-hands-on-deck approach,” Pearson Airport Duty Manager Michael Tomas told CP24 this morning, noting teams are prepared to chemically treat runways and mechanically remove accumulating snow and ice pellets.
"Yesterday, there was a reduction in the flight schedules for the airlines today," Tomas added. "I want to remind passengers to check their flight status before they leave for the airport."
Pearson also warned about the inclement weather on X, posting: "Our crews are standing by to treat runways, taxiways and the apron if ice develops and are ready to deploy plows to clear critical areas if freezing rain turns to snow. Our Central Deicing Facility is fully operational and ready to deice aircraft prior to departure. Traffic Management Initiatives are also in place to help ensure aircraft can move safely and efficiently throughout the day."
According to FlightAware data as of 7:55 p.m. EST, 198 flights at YYZ had been cancelled for today, with 375 delays reported. Total cancellations within, into, or out of the US today at Pearson stands at 88. Among all airports tracked by FlightAware globally, Pearson ranks first for the highest number of cancellations today.
The yellow winter storm warning for Toronto is calling for 5 to 10 cm of snow mixed with ice pellets. Yellow warnings signal that hazardous weather is expected and could cause travel and power disruptions, but impacts are generally less severe than for orange or red warnings.
Air Canada, which has already cancelled a number of flights, has revised its ticketing policy for 18FEB, allowing customers with YYZ bookings to make changes "without penalty, space permitting." The airline advises affected passengers to retrieve their bookings online to rebook free of charge.
Similar flexible policies have also been issued for flights to and from Winnipeg (snow), St. John's (strong wind and snow), Regina (snow), and Saskatoon (snow).
The approaching storm in Toronto comes after a prolonged stretch of below‑freezing temperatures that lasted about 16 consecutive days—one of the longest runs in more than a decade, before warming briefly in the days leading up to 17 FEB. Yesterday, a high near 6 °C was recorded in the city.
Open Jaw will continue to update this story.
