Frigid temperatures and heavy snowfall gripped the region, not easing up any time soon

Simcoe County school buses were cancelled and snow-covered roads slowed down commutes.

It has been a quick return to winter’s wrath after a January thaw that lasted over a week. Cold temperatures and lots of snow descended upon the region again Thursday. The word from Environment Canada is to get used to it - at least for now.

“There was no lake-effect with this one. The storm was more centered in Toronto and that’s why they got more snow,” Dave Phillips from Environment Canada said.

Even by snow belt standards, it was a lot of snow. The heavy snowfall started last night and didn’t stop in many spots until late Thursday morning. Roads were so snow packed, many events across the county have been cancelled for Thursday night. Once again, school buses were taken off the roads.

Police were asking drivers to stay off the roads unless it was absolutely necessary, not just because of the accumulation, but the blowing snow that continued.

Avoid all unnecessary travel if possible," OPP’s James Clarke said.

CAA were reporting wait times of up to almost three hours in parts of Simcoe County.

Barrie has collected about 240 centimetres of snow so far this year. Typically, it would have about 130 centimetres by this time of year.

“The next seven days are all going to have some snow. I mean, we are locked into this frigid air,” Phillips said. “We are going to see it everywhere in Canada. After all, we are the second coldest country in the world and next week, we are going to prove it because from coast to coast to coast, we are all going to be frigid.”

So what’s next in the coming days? Dave Phillips said more of that frigid air and expect to have your snow blowers at the ready. Looking ahead long term, Phillips said, we could see a thaw in February.