Snowfall warning issued, spurring widespread school bus cancellations

Environment Canada issued a yellow alert. Here are the details, plus the 5-day extended forecast.

School buses have been cancelled across several regions Wednesday as heavy and blowing snow move through central Ontario.

Simcoe County

The Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium said all school buses and vans in Simcoe County have been cancelled “due to current poor road and visibility conditions and the forecast for poor conditions to continue throughout the school day.”

Schools remain open for student learning.

• Hourly and 7-day forecast on our CTVNewsBarrie.ca weather hub

Trillium Lakelands

The storm is also affecting families in the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB).

The board said all school vehicles serving all zones have been cancelled for the day, citing weather and road conditions that are expected to stay poor.

According to TLDSB, buses to St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School, Saint Mary’s Catholic Elementary School and Monsignor Michael O’Leary in Muskoka have been cancelled.

In the City of Kawartha Lakes, buses are not running to St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School, St. Dominic Catholic Elementary School, St. John Paul Catholic Elementary School, St. Luke Catholic Elementary School and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School.

York Region

Further south, Student Transportation Services of York Region (STSYR) notified that all bus, minivan and taxi services for both the public and Catholic school boards have been cancelled for Wednesday “due to inclement weather.”

STSYR said all schools remain open.

Snowfall Warning

The cancellations come as a Yellow Warning for snowfall remains in effect.

Environment Canada issued the alert early Wednesday, saying at 3:45 a.m. that heavy snow and local blowing snow are expected, with “total snowfall amounts of 10 to 15 centimetres” likely.

The agency said visibility will be reduced at times and travel will “likely be challenging.”

Forecasters said the snow is tied to an Alberta clipper passing through the region.

Snow is expected to taper to flurries later Wednesday afternoon, but lake-effect snow squalls could develop southeast of Georgian Bay Wednesday night into Thursday.

Additional accumulation is possible, and the agency warned roads and walkways will likely be difficult to navigate until conditions improve.

Forecasts call for periods of snow and snow showers through Wednesday and into Thursday morning.