City urges caution on slippery streets after snow blankets Toronto

City officials are urging residents to be cautious after snow blanketed Toronto on Monday evening.

Mixed precipitation, possibly including ice pellets, was in the forecast overnight but was expected to taper off to light snow, drizzle or freezing drizzle by early Tuesday. 

Toronto remained under a winter weather travel advisory as of 10 p.m. on Monday.

In a winter weather update on Monday afternoon, the city urged residents to take public transit instead of driving. It said if people had to go out on the roads, they should allow for the conditions and expect slippery streets.

"People driving should slow down, follow at a safe distance, watch out for pedestrians and people cycling, and stay alert at all times, especially when approaching transit stops and intersections," the city said in the update.

The forecast called for between five and 10 centimetres of snow. According to Environment Canada, the snowfall was expected to be heavy at times.

The federal weather agency had said visibility would be reduced when the snow was heavy and blowing. The forecast also called for strong easterly wind gusts of up to 60 km/h in Toronto followed by strong westerly winds of up to 60 km/h on Tuesday.

"Travel may be hazardous due to sudden changes in the weather," Environment Canada said.

"Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions."

Ontario Provincial Police, meanwhile, urged motorists to brace for difficult driving conditions.

"Winter has arrived here with a fury again," Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, spokesperson for the OPP's highway safety division, said in a Twitter video.

"This system came through really fast. The wind is blowing strong out of the east. It was clear and then all of a sudden the snow hit," he added.

"If you're on the roads, drive carefully, safely."

Give snow plows plenty of room to do their jobs, he added, saying visibility is very limited. Everyone's "full headlight systems" should be on, he said.