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Extreme cold weather alert ends for Toronto after record snowfall on weekend

An extreme cold weather alert issued on the weekend for Toronto has ended.

Toronto's medical officer of health issued the alert after Toronto received a record amount of snow on Saturday. Environment Canada says 17.2 centimetres of snow fell at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, a new daily snowfall record for Jan. 18. The alert was lifted on Monday at noon.

Toronto Public Health says the warming centre at Metro Hall, which is open on Monday, will close on Tuesday at noon.

According to the Ontario Provincial Police, more than 250 crashes were reported to the OPP in a 24-hour period that included the hours of intense snowfall on Saturday afternoon.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's medical officer of health, issues extreme cold weather alerts when the temperature is expected to be –15 C or colder or when the wind chill is forecast to be –20 or colder.

Extreme cold weather alerts may also be issued when the forecast calls for factors, such as precipitation, low daytime temperatures, or several days and nights of cold weather in a row, that can affect health.

Environment Canada says a low pressure system, called a Colorado low, moved eastward over Lake Huron on Saturday afternoon. The system brought snow to nearly all of Ontario on Friday night through Saturday. Many areas also saw blowing snow due to strong winds.

Susan Goodspeed/CBC
Susan Goodspeed/CBC