CityNews – Flooding reported in Toronto and parts of GTA following messy wintry storm
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This new article published in CityNews Toronto covers the powerful wintry storm that swept through much of Ontario the week of April 3, bringing a chaotic mix of snow, ice pellets, freezing rain, and heavy rainfall— leading to localized flooding in Toronto and parts of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). While freezing rain and rainfall warnings have now been lifted, the storm’s effects are still being felt across the region.
Toronto saw its heaviest rainfall between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. Thursday, with total accumulation expected to reach 50 mm. The sudden influx of water overwhelmed drainage systems in several areas, causing road closures and travel disruptions. Among the hardest-hit spots were parts of Etobicoke, where flooding shut down the northbound Hwy. 427 ramp to Rexdale Boulevard, and the lower stretch of Bayview Avenue, which was closed due to Don River flooding.
Emergency crews and city alerts warned the public to avoid shorelines and rivers, while additional reports of stranded vehicles came in from locations like Keele Street and Finch Avenue West, Jane Street and Driftwood Avenue, and Steeles Avenue East. In Peel Region, road closures were also reported in Mississauga and Brampton.
The flooding follows a string of recent extreme weather events, including last weekend’s ice storm that left hundreds of thousands without power. The combination of saturated ground, lingering snow, and rapid temperature swings is becoming a familiar and increasingly hazardous trend.
This latest storm highlights the growing need for resilient infrastructure and better forecasting tools to adapt to Canada’s changing climate. Projects like Canada1Water (C1W) are helping meet this challenge by offering national-scale hydrological data and integrated climate modelling to support real-time decision-making for flood and drought management.
A car is seen partially submerged in Brampton following a significant rainfall. Photo: Giancarlo DeSantis/CityNews.