'Intense' snowfall created dangerous driving conditions Thursday

High winds and whiteouts created standstill traffic on the roads and highways around the Greater Toronto Area Thursday night as "an intense band of snow" pelted the city and surrounding suburbs. 

Environment Canada issued a winter travel advisory for Toronto, forecasting a quick snowfall of five to 10 centimetres. 

The weather service proved correct about the speedy snowstorm; the snow tapered off by 7 p.m.

• Heavy snow grounds flights in Toronto and prompts universities to close

The worst of the weather happened in the middle of rush-hour traffic. Toronto police reported seven collisions around the city by 5 p.m., while blowing snow blanketed those on foot — or on skis.

The messiest roads in the city around rush hour were in both the north and east ends, CBC Toronto meteorologist Jay Scotland tweeted. 

As the evening continued, the snow squalls moved south and battered Peel Region.

Snow squall warnings also covered parts of York and Durham, as well as Barrie and parts of cottage country.

"Snow squalls cause weather conditions to vary considerably; changes from clear skies to heavy snow within just a few kilometres are common," the warnings said.

Meanwhile, a special weather statement warns of a potential mix of precipitation on Friday evening and into Saturday across much of southern Ontario.

The statement warns that a "large system from the southwestern United States will spread snow across Southern Ontario Friday night."

Such systems typically drop between 15 and 20 cm of snow, "and this one appears to be no exception," the statement reads. 

Conditions are expected to improve on Sunday.

The statement comes as Toronto remains under an extreme cold weather alert.

• City issues extreme cold weather alert as deep freeze moves in

The overnight low is forecast to be -13 C. Temperatures will rise a bit as the precipitation moves in on Friday, when the forecast high is -5 C.