Heavy snowfall grounds hundreds of flights in Canada

Heavy snowfall has covered Quebec, Ontario and surrounding areas in Canada, affecting air travel across the country. 

On February 16, 2025, Canada’s The Weather Network reported that a significant winter storm had hit southern and eastern Quebec. Montreal and Sherbrooke are expected to receive the most snow, with a total of 30–40 centimeters possible by the morning of February 17, 2025. Residents in Gatineau and Quebec City may see 20–30 centimeters of snow by the end of the storm. 

Ontario has also experienced another snowstorm, adding to an already snow trodden region. According to The Weather Network, it is the third winter storm in just eight days in the area. As of February 16, 2025, at 16:00 local time, Toronto recorded 26 centimeters of snow, while Ottawa had received 34 centimeters. 

Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) announced on X that many flights were delayed or cancelled on February 16, 2025, due to the storm, with delays expected to persist into the next day. The latest forecast shows that the airport received an additional 15 centimeters of snow as of January 16, 2025. 

“In total, we’ve had 53.6 centimeters of snow this past week,” Toronto Airport officials said on X. “To put that into perspective, that’s more than the 47.6 centimeters we got in January, December, and November, combined.” 

Video footage was shared on X as the snowstorm arrived, depicting locals filming the airport covered in snow and snow ploughs busy clearing the heavy drifts.