So far the winter has been relatively mild, so your sun loving reporter has not had too much to complain about……………………….!

But that’s about to end bunky!

I always get caught around this time of year when I stat thinking that we will have a “none-winter” and a mild and early spring.

Usually about two or three days later we get walloped by a major snow storm, or “lake effect” blizzard, that closes the city down for a couple of days.

Well, here it is!

(This is a picture of my back yard!) –>

Both a major storm and a “lake effect” blizzard at the same time.

Wouldn’t even be so bed if it was only local, but this sucker is affecting about 10 million people here in southern Ontario.

A major snowstorm pummelling southern Ontario and parts of the U.S. is forcing school and other closures as well as flight delays and cancellations, and has prompted warnings of hazardous driving conditions.
Between 25 and 40 centimetres of snow are expected to fall across southern Ontario, which is also slugging through strong and gusty northeasterly winds.
“This potentially could become an historic storm not only for the city of Toronto but for places south of the border,” said CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe Friday morning.
It’s expected the storm will deliver the Greater Toronto Area’s most significant snowfall in five years. CBC meteorologist Claire Martin said the last time Toronto experienced similar snow accumulations was Feb. 6, 2008, when 30.4 cm hit the city.
The same weather system is also poised to dump up to 60 cm of snow across the northeastern United States.
Environment Canada is warning commuters of hazardous travelling conditions due to near-zero visibility, and heavy and blowing snow.
The heaviest snowfall is expected to hit during the morning rush hour along the Highway 401 corridor from London, Ont., across the Waterloo region and into the Greater Toronto Area.
Parts of southern Quebec can also expect to see snow as the system moves east toward the Maritimes.
Thousands of international flights have been cancelled in anticipation of the storm.
 
Ontario’s GO Transit is also advising its customers to leave extra time for travelling and to check its website for service updates.

It is warning that customers may experience delays on its bus and train systems.

<– (The 401 across the top of Toronto. Really heavy snow!)

Thirty per cent of flights at Toronto Pearson Airport had already been cancelled late Thursday night. WestJet pre-emptively cancelled 40 flights Thursday and Friday to avoid a backlog in its schedule as the storm intensifies.


(Me clearing snow!) –>

Travelers at airports across Canada are being advised to call airlines ahead of time to check if flights have been cancelled or delayed.

Ontario Provincial Police are warning people to drive carefully as traveling conditions worsen throughout the morning.

MEANWHILE!

BOSTON (Reuters) – The northeastern United States braced on Friday morning for a blizzard that could drop up to three feet (nearly one meter) of snow through Saturday and bring travel to a halt.

Blizzard warnings were in effect from New Jersey through southern Maine, with Boston expected to bear the brunt of the massive storm that could set records. The day began with light snow and winds that were due to pick up with much heavier snowfall by afternoon.