Extreme cold weather alert issued for Toronto

The city of Toronto has issued an extreme cold weather alert as residents brace frigid temperatures that are hovering at -25 C with the wind chill.

Forecasters called for a high of -10 C without the wind factor on Wednesday as a cold snap moved into the region.

The alert triggers the city to open up an additional 80 emergency shelter spaces to help get the homeless out from the cold. Residents are also urged to limit outdoor activity.

The sudden drop in temperature caused a flash freeze on roads and highways, and police and tow trucks dealt with numerous accidents.

A GO Transit van skidded and flipped over at Stouffville Road near Highway 48, but the driver managed to crawl out and only suffered minor injuries.

Many vehicles also ended in the ditch on Stouffville Road near Kennedy Road.

"It's extremely icy and it doesn't look like they've had some sand or salt on them at all," said one driver, who managed to avoid crashing into the ditch.

Meanwhile, the mercury is expected to remain at around -10 C on Thursday, and Toronto could see between five and 10 centimetres of snow on Friday, forecasters said.

With a report from CTV Toronto's MairiAnna Bachynsky