Well, you made it. At least most of you did.
The first accumulating snowfall of the winter came and went in a hurry in the GTA Thursday morning, as an Alberta Clipper left up to eight centimetres in parts of the city.
That's not a lot but it was still enough to create all kinds of havoc on the roads.
The OPP went to more than 400 accidents on the highways since the storm started Wednesday afternoon. There were scores of other mishaps in other parts of the city - mostly fender benders - as drivers not used to the wintry conditions started slip sliding away on suddenly treacherous streets.
Collision centres were crowded as drivers first met by accident and then inside the busy reporting places. Under the law, you have 24 hours to get there after a serious collision. Among the likely visitors: two people who came together on the westbound 401 at Markham Rd., after one vehicle clipped another.
Cops were complaining all morning that motorists were simply going too fast for the conditions, not leaving enough space, that many didn't have snow tires, and that it takes a few falls of the flakes to get everyone acclimatized to driving in bad weather.
The first snow wasn't much fun for homeowners, either, who rediscovered the joy of getting up early and going out in the cold morning light to shovel it all away.
One man managed to get his snow blower started for the first time this season. "The machine is fourteen years old," Joe Speciale (top left) notes proudly. "This is my second wife!"
O.K. but why was he wearing oven mitts instead of real gloves? "They keep you warm," he explains. "Nobody believes [me.] These are the best you can use!"
Others were also adept at shovelling out advice. "Use your legs. Don't use your back. It will go on you," one householder warns. "Invest in a good shovel. Glove, hat. Make sure you stay warm."
So how much did you get? Here are some random samples.
Pearson Int'l. Airport: 7 cm
Downtown T.O.: 4 cm
Riverdale: 6 cm
Buttonville Aiport: 10 cm
Hamilton: 3 cm
Not everyone was moaning about having to go from a wool blanket to a white one. Some kids got up early for a snowball fight they'd been waiting months to stage. Others made snow angels before the reality of morning classes called.
They hopefully enjoyed themselves, because outside of a dusting that may come our way, there are no more major flakes in the
7-day forecast. But then winter hasn't even officially started yet.
At least not here. For those in the traditional snowsquall belts, it may not be a question of playing before school but whether there will be any school at all. Some areas could get buried by up to 30cm and those on the eastern shores of Lake Huron might get 50.
See the 7-day forecast here
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GTA Collision Reporting Centres
Scarborough
39 Howden Rd.
(Lawrence E., between Warden and Birchmount.)
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Etobicoke
855 Oxford St.
(Near Royal York Road, between QEW and Evans Ave.)
Monday-Friday 7am-9pm
North York
113 Toryork Dr.
(Near Weston Road, between Steeles and Finch)
Open seven days a week 6:30am-1.30am
Brampton
7750 Hurontario St.
(Near Hwy. 10 & Steeles)
185 Central Park Drive
(Highway 7 and Central Park Dr.)
Milton
203 Steeles Ave. West
Open Mon-Fri 7:30am-9:30pm
Sat/Sun 9am-9pm
Mississauga
3030 Erin Mills Parkway
(Near Dundas St. West)
4600 Dixie Road
(South of Eglinton)
Durham Region
Ajax-Pickering Community Police Office
1710 Kingston Road (at Brock Rd. and Hwy. 2)
10am-8pm
Oakville
Halton Regional Police H.Q.
1151 Bronte Rd.
Info courtesy: MTO & Toronto Police