FOG BLOG WEATHER LOG: SOUTHERN ONTARIO HIT WITH 60 CM OF SNOW , HIGH WIND, TORONTO TO BREAK RECORD:

Blizzard warnings lifted after major snowfall hits southern Ontario.....Southern Ontario woke up to a dumping of snow that fell Monday morning as a major historic winter storm swept through the region.

Just after 7:45 a.m. Monday, Environment Canada put the City of Toronto and Hamilton under a “blizzard” warning, shortly followed by other surrounding GTA regions.

At around 11:30 a.m., blizzard warnings in Toronto, Peel, York, Durham, Halton and Hamilton regions were lifted.

Snow accumulation of 40 to 60 cm was expected in the hardest hit areas such as the GTA, Environment Canada saidLLLL.Wind gusts of up to 60 km/h caused blowing snow and reduced visibility, the weather agency continued.

Other southern Ontario regions were under “winter storm” or “snowfall” warnings.

Environment Canada said there were peak snowfall rates of 8 to 10 centimetres per hour this morning in Toronto, with a little less in other cities.

Meanwhile, on the roads, OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said thousands of cars were stuck along Highway 401 in Toronto and urged drivers to stay home.

“The biggest problem right now is the plows are stuck in this as well,” Schmidt said. “They can’t clear the highways, and you’re not going anywhere … if you’re stuck in traffic, you might be here a while.”

“Please if you haven’t left the driveway, stay home.” Schmidt said.

Toronto police had to temporarily shut down the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway.

The closure was to get cars off the expressways and to get plows in to clear the roadways, police said.

Drivers out on the roads have told Global News they had to shovel their cars out or got stuck in the snow. One man in a Ford F-150 pickup truck said he got stuck at least four times and was waiting on a friend with a bigger truck to help get him out.