Greater Sudbury and several communities across northeastern Ontario are dealing with a powerful late-winter storm that has forced major highway closures, disrupted public services, and pushed local officials to declare a significant weather event. The storm arrived early Monday, bringing heavy snowfall, freezing rain, strong winds, and extremely hazardous travel conditions across a wide stretch of the region.
Authorities across northeastern Ontario have urged residents to remain at home and avoid unnecessary travel as crews work to respond to rapidly changing conditions. In Sudbury, officials warned that the storm could cause widespread disruptions to transportation, services, and utilities while snow and ice continue to accumulate.
Sudbury Declares Significant Weather Event
The City of Greater Sudbury declared a significant weather event as the storm intensified Monday morning. The declaration signals that road maintenance operations may not be able to keep up with the extreme weather conditions and that it may take longer than usual to clear roads and restore normal services.
Sudbury police said major municipal roads including Municipal Road 80, Municipal Road 35 and Municipal Road 55 may not be maintained except for emergency services during the most severe conditions. Side streets could also remain unplowed for extended periods as crews prioritize critical routes.
Authorities asked residents to stay off the roads until conditions improve. Officials stressed that unnecessary travel could place drivers and emergency crews at risk during the storm.
Major Highway Closures Across Northeastern Ontario
The winter storm has triggered widespread highway closures across the region as blowing snow, ice accumulation and poor visibility made travel extremely dangerous. According to regional updates, several major highways were shut down Monday morning.
Closed highways include Highway 69 from Sudbury to Parry Sound, Highway 144 from Chelmsford to Timmins, Highway 17 from Blind River to Sault Ste. Marie and Highway 11 from North Bay to Longlac. Additional closures reported across the region include Highway 6 from Little Current to Espanola, Highway 65 from Highway 66 to the Quebec border, Highway 101 from Wawa to Folyet, Highway 129 from Wharncliffe to Chapleau and Highway 655 from Highway 11 to Kidd Creek Mine.
Officials warned that travel could quickly become impossible in some areas due to heavy snowfall and drifting. Drivers looking for real-time updates on road conditions can monitor Ontario 511 road reports, which provide updated closures and travel advisories across the province.
Heavy Snowfall, Freezing Rain and Powerful Winds
The storm is affecting different parts of northeastern Ontario in different ways. Areas around Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins are expected to receive the heaviest snowfall, with totals ranging from 30 to 50 centimetres. Around Greater Sudbury, the storm is bringing a mix of freezing rain and snow, increasing the risk of icy surfaces and dangerous driving conditions.
North Bay is expected to experience heavy rain combined with freezing rain rather than the same level of snow accumulation. Across the entire region, strong wind gusts between 70 and 80 kilometres per hour are making conditions even worse by blowing snow across highways and reducing visibility.
Weather officials have warned that these combined conditions could lead to widespread disruptions. Environment Canada issued an orange winter storm warning for parts of the region, cautioning that travel could become extremely hazardous and that road closures were likely. More details about ongoing alerts can be found through Environment Canadaâs weather updates.
Hospitals Cancel Appointments and Surgeries
The storm has also disrupted healthcare services in Sudbury. Health Sciences North confirmed that all outpatient appointments and clinics scheduled for March 16 have been cancelled and will be rescheduled.
This includes chemotherapy treatments, radiation appointments, elective surgeries and other non-urgent procedures. Hospital officials said dialysis services and treatments will continue as scheduled, while the emergency department remains open.
However, patients visiting the emergency room were warned that longer wait times may occur due to storm-related disruptions affecting staff and patient travel.
Transit and Municipal Services Shut Down
The severe weather has also forced several cities to cancel public services for the day. In Sault Ste. Marie, municipal officials suspended transit and Parabus services until further notice. Garbage and recycling collection has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for the following week.
City facilities across the Sault are also closed, including community centres, arenas, pools and the Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre. Officials said snow clearing crews are working around the clock but warned that conditions remain extremely difficult.
Residents were asked to avoid parking vehicles on streets and keep sidewalks clear so crews can continue snow removal operations safely.
Colleges and Universities Closed
The winter storm has also forced multiple post-secondary institutions across northeastern Ontario to close campuses and cancel activities. Schools affected include Cambrian College, Collège BorÊal, Northern College (except for its Moosonee campus), Algoma University and Sault College.
Laurentian University in Sudbury also cancelled all campus activities and closed offices as the storm intensified.
Most elementary and secondary schools were already closed due to the March Break holiday, which helped limit the impact of the storm on students and transportation.
Residents Urged to Stay Home
Officials across northeastern Ontario are urging residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary while crews work to clear roads and restore services. Snow drifts have already buried vehicles and entrances in some communities, highlighting how quickly conditions have deteriorated.
Authorities warn that heavy snow accumulation could increase the risk of roof damage or collapse in some buildings, while strong winds may also lead to localized power outages. Hydro One has already reported small outages in areas including Manitoulin Island and French River.
For Sudbury and surrounding communities, the storm is a reminder that winter weather can still deliver powerful disruptions even as spring approaches. Emergency crews and municipal workers continue to respond across the region as residents wait for conditions to improve and transportation routes to reopen.
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