Toronto faced its worst snowstorm in almost 60 years over the weekend, impacting Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Billy Bishop (YTZ). Environment and Climate Change Canada recorded 46 cm of snow at Pearson on Sunday, January 25, setting a new record for the airport in one day and bringing the month’s total to an unprecedented 88.2 cm. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, by 10:45 a. m. EST Monday, 41 percent of flights at YYZ and 30 percent at YTZ were canceled, causing delays that rippled through Montréal-Trudeau, Calgary, and Vancouver. (paxnews. com) Air Canada, West Jet, and major U. S. airlines offered “weather-waiver” policies that allowed passengers to re-book without fees. However, rerouting options were limited since the same storm also affected airports in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. Business travelers reported long wait times of three to five hours when trying to contact airline call centers while corporate travel managers rushed to find new arrangements for teams heading into Toronto’s financial district and nearby manufacturing areas. During this hectic situation, having all travel documents organized becomes even more essential. Visa HQ (https://www. visahq. com/canada/) can quickly assist stranded travelers or employees reassigned last minute by helping them secure e TAs, visas or work-permit extensions through an online platform that provides real-time updates to corporate travel systems-reducing one more issue when weather disrupts plans. The shutdown didn’t just affect passengers; it also halted important cargo deliveries. Freight forwarders warned clients about expected delays of up to 48 hours for parts needed just-in-time for Ontario’s auto industry while perishable life-science shipments had to be redirected to Chicago and Detroit. Customs brokers noted that backlogs could continue into next week as ground handlers worked on clearing snow from apron areas before returning to normal operations. The storm also complicated ground transportation. Ontario Provincial Police dealt with over 430 vehicle accidents while logistics companies noted cross-border truck traffic via the Ambassador Bridge was operating at only 20 percent of its usual volume on Monday as snowplows worked hard to clear Highway 401. Employers with incoming assignments have been advised to activate “force majeure” clauses in relocation contracts and offer temporary remote-work solutions until travel resumes normally. Meteorologists explain the heavy snowfall was due to a clash between an Arctic air mass and moisture-rich Gulf systems-an interaction that climate models suggest might happen more often in the future. For those involved in mobility planning, this event highlights the need for solid weather contingency strategies such as advance booking buffers, traveler-tracking tools, and pre-approved funds for unexpected hotel blocks.
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