UPDATED: Snowy, slushy, wet roads equal tough Tuesday commute

A man braced for a chilly afternoon in Park Royal along Truscott Dr. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. (Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)

GTA residents woke up to snow and wind on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. Lakeshore Rd. W. in south Mississauga was plowed and salted. (Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)

Downtown Mississauga saw its first blast of winter on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. (Photo: Submitted/QEW South Post)

Taxis crammed Front St. in downtown Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. (Photo: Monique Anglin/QEW South Post)

Pedestrians faced Mother Nature on Front St. in downtown Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. (Photo: Monique Anglin/QEW South Post)

Road conditions were good in Park Royal along Truscott Dr. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. (Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)

There was no snow day at Allan A. Martin Sr. P.S., as the first blast of winter hit Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. (Photo: Submitted/QEW South Post)

Snow and ice didn’t stop one cyclist, whose bicycle was parked along Front St. in downtown Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. (Photo: Monique Anglin/QEW South Post)

Road conditions were good in Park Royal along Truscott Dr. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. (Photo: Kelly Roche/QEW South Post)

The drive home was much smoother after a rude winter awakening greeted Mississauga residents Tuesday with snow, ice, and strong winds — but there’s still risk of snow squalls into Wednesday.

Peel road crews still out battling blowing snow and white out conditions. Most roads are track bare but few spots covered from blown snow.

— Peel Public Works (@PeelPublicWorks) January 13, 2016

“It’s snowy, it’s slushy … you can’t see the lanes,” said OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt at 7:45 a.m..
For those heading east, “Toronto is probably a lot worse off than Mississauga right now,” Schmidt said, adding he drove through Mississauga “and it’s mostly just wet there.”
At least five cm of snow was expected in Halton-Peel and Toronto, according to Environment Canada.
“The snow may be heavy at times,” reads the statement.
Tuesday’s predicted high was -3 C, falling to -6 C in the afternoon.
Motorists were advised to be careful as roads may become hazardous due to blowing snow and poor visibility. Peel Police were reporting five minor collisions before 8 a.m.
There weren’t too many highway crashes – yet. “They’re coming in on a frequent basis but it’s still pretty ugly out there,” said Schmidt.

Due to slow traffic caused by the weather, your #GObus is delayed up to 40 minutes for your morning commute. Update will follow as needed.

— GO Transit (@GOtransit) January 12, 2016

GO Transit was asking passengers to allow extra time and be careful in parking lots and platforms, while flights to Montreal, Ottawa, Baltimore, New York, Pittsburgh, and Sarnia, among other destinations, were cancelled at Pearson International Airport.

Snow this morning may cause some delays. If you're flying, confirm flight time with your airline or at https://t.co/siQEK1eP2c.

— Toronto Pearson (@TorontoPearson) January 12, 2016

If you’re behind the wheel and can’t see the lane markings, “drive as carefully as you can and just be courteous to those around you, ’cause they can’t see their lanes either,” Schmidt said.
He advised drivers to “take it easy. Understand that we’re all trying to get where we’re going, and we all need to work together.” Flurries are predicted Wednesday, according to the weather agency, with 2 to 4 cm falling and a high of -8 C.
-Kelly Roche
@qewsouthpost

SGT. SCHMIDT’S QUICK TIPS