Remembering the worst snowstorm in Toronto history

On Dec. 11, 1944, the city received a single-day record snowfall of 48.3 cm.

A black and white archival photo of cars buried under deep snow in Toronto on Dec. 11, 1944 — A record snowfall on Dec. 11, 1944, buried vehicles all across Toronto. (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Subseries 100, Item 453)

Torontonians don’t exactly have to strain themselves to remember a major snowstorm.

On Jan. 17, 2022, a whopping 36 cm (14.2 in.) of snow fell on the city. It caused major havoc on roadways and closed schools and COVID-19 vaccination clinics for the day.

And yet, there had to be some longtime Toronto residents among us who looked out their windows, scoffed, and said, “I’ve seen worse.”

#1 of 5: Queen & Yonge

The city’s worst snowstorm

On Dec. 11, 1944, Toronto saw 48.3 cm (19 in.) of snow — a single-day record that still stands. With a little more added the following day, a total of 57.2 cm (22.5 in.) fell in one continuous storm.

Summing up the situation for the entire area, the Toronto Daily Star had this to say on Dec. 13:

“Winds which piled the snow in drifts added to the throttling effect of the storm. Great cities, towns and small hamlets were completely helpless to carry on their normal activities or to communicate with one another except by telephone.”

Much of the city was shut down on Dec. 12, including schools, the TTC, and even the Toronto Stock Exchange.

#1 of 5: Yonge, north of Adelaide (looking south)

The aftermath of the storm

Sadly, this was no light-hearted snow day — neither in the moment nor in hindsight.

The lack of ability to move around the city was particularly troubling because it was the time of the Second World War — Toronto had a munitions factory, and workers couldn’t get to it.

To remedy that, everyone over the age of 16 was asked to volunteer to help dig out the city, and many answered the call. But the task proved too much for several citizens.

A total of 21 people died as a direct result from the storm, many of them from over-exertion while shovelling.

In its Dec. 13 dispatch, the Daily Star also reported that one person died in a streetcar accident in which a “loaded car tipped off the rails.”

All photos courtesy of City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Subseries 100.

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