‘A bit of a wake-up call’: Record-setting snowfall hits Waterloo Region

A record-setting snowfall hit Waterloo Region on Sunday, leading to icy conditions on the roadways and a rise in the number of reported collisions.

According to Rob Kuhn, a meteorologist with Environment Canada’s Ontario Storm Prediction Centre, Kitchener broke a daily snowfall record for Nov. 9 with 14 centimetres of snow, passing the previous record of 10.2 cm set in the early 1900s.

“I think this was a bit of a wake-up call for folks contemplating whether to put the snow tires on yet or not,” said Geoff Coulson, warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada. “Looking at the longer range forecast, we do settle back to more seasonal temperatures as we get towards the end of the work week and head into the weekend.”

It was an all-day snow event, with the University of Waterloo’s weather station recording 6 cm fell by 10 a.m., followed by about half a centimetre per hour until around 11 p.m.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for Waterloo Region on Sunday, and weather specialists are anticipating scattered flurries on Monday.

“Even though the bulk of what we were expecting fell yesterday, there’s still scattered flurry activity, there’s blowing and drifting snow with strong gusty winds as well,” said 570’s Weather Specialist Denise Andreacchi. “We’re still dealing with the impacts of this early-season snowfall.”

Andreacchi added that falling temperatures throughout the day on Sunday led to some slippery conditions on roadways.

“At first, yesterday’s snow melted on contact, then it started to stick to the ground, but we did have a lot of wet surfaces; it wasn’t just snow,” she said.

In a statement to 570 NewsRadio, Waterloo regional police said they responded to 20 collisions on Sunday, an increase from eight reported crashes the Sunday prior.

Regional police added that there were no reported injuries in the collisions on Sunday.

Temperatures are expected to fall to feel-like -12 overnight on Monday before rising to 5 C with showers by Wednesday.

More in weather news

Waterloo Region records snowiest November in more-than 70 years

Snow shovels and plows got to work early this year because November was one of the snowiest Waterloo Region experienced in the last century. According to weather experts at the University of Waterloo,…

57m ago

WRPS reminding drivers of the dangers of snow-covered vehicles

With still months of wintery weather on the way, Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) is issuing its annual reminder to make sure all snow-covered vehicles are cleared before drivers hit the streets. It…

December 6, 2025 12:23 pm EST EST

Snowfall warning ends for Waterloo region; flurries expected throughout the day

While the snowfall warning may have ended for Waterloo Region, people can still expect some accumulation throughout the day. Environment Canada estimates between Saturday night and Sunday, the region…

December 1, 2025 11:32 am EST EST

Snow events remain in place, region still expecting 5-10 cm before Sunday

Waterloo Region may have made it through the worst of its most recent winter snowstorm, but the forecast is still calling for another five to 10 centimetres before Sunday morning. The region already…

December 1, 2025 12:01 pm EST EST