Snowstorm causes significant travel disruption across parts of North America
The severe weather event has caused the grounding of thousands of flights across the US and Canada
More than 4,200 flights were grounded across North America on Monday due to heavy snow in the region, according to FlightAware data, alongside significant disruption to motorists and public transport.
In addition, more than 3,000 domestic and international flights across the US were cancelled on Sunday, with over 8,000 delayed.
The delays were caused by a winter snowstorm which has been moving up the eastern coast of the continent, causing significant snowfall in some areas. According to the US National Weather Service, Ashtabula, Ohio, on the coast of Lake Erie, experienced 69 centimetres of snow, while parts of the states of New York, Pennsylvania and North Carolina registered half a metre of snowfall.
The Canadian city of Toronto, Ontario, has also declared a ‘major snowstorm condition’ after Monday’s blizzard. The declaration – permitted under the municipal code after at least five centimetres of snow – enables specific road use rules designed to prevent the impediment of snow-clearing efforts.
The city experienced significant transport disruption as road visibility dropped substantially for drivers and many of Toronto Transit Commission’s light rail and bus services ground to a halt.
In both Ontario and the neighbouring province of Quebec, high numbers of traffic incidents have been reported, including some which have caused highway closures, according to public broadcaster CBC.