The first full day of spring in Toronto is characterized by periods of intense gusts and near-zero visibility, which is already causing problems on some of the city's main roads.

Environment Canada issued a winter travel warning this Wednesday morning before what the agency described as brief heavy snowfall this afternoon.

The snow will not last long, and accumulations are not expected to exceed four centimeters, but the cold front moving south across the region may make travel difficult in the evening.

The National Weather Agency said in the warning: “A narrow band of intense gusts accompanied by a stormy northwesterly wind associated with the front will cause a relatively short but sudden drop in visibility.”

Officials confirmed that travel may be hazardous due to “sudden” changes in weather and “near-zero visibility.”

Ontario Provincial Police were called to a multi-vehicle collision on a major highway in Toronto earlier this morning after the snowfall, and in a video posted on X, Sergeant Kerry Schmidt said officers responded to several separate collisions on the westbound Eglinton Street ramp to Highway 401 involving 17 vehicles.

He added that several people were transported to the hospital. The severity of their injuries has not been disclosed.

Schmidt said in the video: “This is on an overpass, an elevated platform, which may have contributed to some freezing and icy conditions.”

Drivers are asked to adjust their speeds to match road conditions throughout the winter weather wave, which is expected to subside later tonight.

When will the spring weather arrive?

As for when spring-like temperatures will occur, Bill Coulter, a meteorology expert at CP24, said it may take some time.

He said, “You will want to keep jackets, hats, and thick gloves handy for the rest of the week,” noting that temperatures will not rise above 7 degrees Celsius until Tuesday of next week.

The high temperature on Wednesday is expected to reach one degree Celsius. Thursday will struggle to reach -1 degree Celsius.

“Friday will offer a few peaks of early morning sunshine. Gusts arrive by midday. Snowfall occurs during the afternoon and evening, and local accumulations may exceed 5 cm before calming overnight. Coulter said the temperature rise will struggle to reach -2 degrees Celsius.”