Slippery Sunday minus snow tires: first snow catches many off guard

Canadians are no stranger to snow but many weren’t expecting it and the amount of snow on Sunday definitely caught many people off guard for the start of the season.

The Ontario Provincial Police say there were about 140 minor crashes on Sunday as drivers got accustomed to the snowy weather.

Snow is falling, and winter driving conditions are here. More snow is expected throughout the day. #DriveSafe #OnStorm ^ks pic.twitter.com/BhBhROQIoU

— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) November 9, 2025

So, now is the time to get those snow tires on if you haven’t already.

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Eccles Auto Service says it is already pulling out the snow tires for customers Monday morning for customers who booked ahead of time.

“Winter tires are beneficial for 6 degrees and lower. That is where they out perform an all-season tire,” says Jim Lawton, the General Manager of Eccles Auto Service in Dundas.

“These customers know that, they know temperatures start to get colder come November. So they’re just trying to be ahead of the game, before we get what we got yesterday.”

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That’s exactly what Karen Birthelmer is doing Monday but says she had to brave the snowy roads Sunday night.

“I actually left the party I was at early because I didn’t want to be in the dark with no snow tires. And I got home because I was very worried about it and my appointment was for today. It felt a little bit ironic,” Birthelmer says.

Thankfully, road conditions are a little better Monday morning but, sidewalks and some side roads are still icy.

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Only a couple Hamilton city plows are on the roads this morning, including the two playfully named “Snowmoni Lawrence,” and “control, salt, delete.”

Some flights were delayed from Pearson International Airport on Sunday but Canada’s navigation service says everything has returned to normal.

Environment Canada issued a Special Weather Statement and warned that we could see anywhere between 5 to 10 centimetres of snow, with the heaviest closest to the lake.

The same system is moving towards Quebec with around 10 centimeters expected for Montreal.

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