PHOTOS: Winter storm illuminates skies and buries roads in Ontario

A snow covered street is seen following a snow storm in Toronto on Saturday, March 4, 2023. Environment Canada has issued a winter storm warning for much of southern Ontario. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press)
A snow covered street is seen following a snow storm in Toronto on Saturday, March 4, 2023. Environment Canada has issued a winter storm warning for much of southern Ontario. (Arlyn McAdorey/The Canadian Press)

Spring is just a few weeks away, but winter is keeping a tight grip on southern Ontario.

Such was the case Friday night into Saturday morning with one of the region's biggest snowfall events of the season. For most of the south, the heaviest snowfall and gustiest winds lasted through the early morning hours on Saturday.

RELATED: Snow-powered Ontario winter storm leaves hefty cleanup in its wake

During the height of the storm, snowfall rates of over 5 centimetres per hour were forecast, along with wind gusts of 60-70+ km/h. Thundersnow was also reported in many locales experiencing the most intense snowfall rates.

The result was dangerous travel conditions, localized power outages, and flight delays and cancellations as high winds and heavy snowfall blanketed the region. Poor conditions hung on into Saturday morning for the south and will linger into the afternoon for eastern sections.

As of Saturday morning, hefty snowfall totals have been reported in several locales including 33 cm in Stouffville, 29 cm in North York, 27 cm in Waterloo and 24 cm at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

UpdatedSnow
UpdatedSnow

Downtown Toronto has seen 16 cm so far, with lesser amounts likely there because of rain-snow mixing at times during the storm.

Visit our Complete Guide to Spring 2023 for an in-depth look at the Spring Forecast, tips to plan for it and much more!

Below is a selection of visuals from the storm, during and after, currently making the rounds on social media.

WATCH: Storm brings thundersnow light show to the GTA, see it here

Click here to view the video

WATCH: Deep snow covers much of Ontario even as spring is in the air

Click here to view the video

Thumbnail courtesy of David Glover, taken in Dundas, Ont.