BARRIO (CP24) – The city says it is readying its snow removal equipment ahead of a storm set to bring up to 25 centimetres of accumulation to parts of the Greater Toronto Area Friday evening.

As of Friday morning, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has issued winter weather advisories and warnings for much of central, southern, and eastern Ontario.

In the Greater Toronto Area, currently under an ECCC winter weather travel advisory, the snow is set to start falling in Toronto at around 7 p.m., with a total of up to 10 centimetres expected in the city. Areas north of Highway 407, however, could see up to 25 centimetres. Later in the evening, the snow will turn to rain, the agency forecasted.

“It’s going to be nasty, albeit briefly [in Toronto], with a much more protracted, prolonged period up in areas like Caledon, Newmarket, and Aurora, Ont. Those are the areas that you pick up 15 to 25 cm,” CP24 meteorologist Bill Coulter said.

In a news conference Friday morning, Vincent Sferrazza, Toronto’s Director of Transportation Operations and Maintenance told reporters that city crews were ready for “every eventuality.”

“What’s contributing to the uncertainty or predictability of this particular event is the fact that throughout the early morning hours, we’re going to see quite a bit of precipitation in the form of rain that will result in a lot of sludge and messier conditions,” he said.

Sferrazza said the city would activate salting operations once the snow begins to stick. If required, snow plows will begin plowing major routes at just over two centimetres of accumulation.

Local roads will see snow removal activated slightly earlier than usual, at about two to four centimetres, in an effort to utilize a lack of traffic during the overnight hours. The standard protocol is to send plows out to residential streets only after eight centimeters of snow has fallen.

Sferrazza reminded residents that if they encounter snow removal machinery on the roads to keep their distance.

“It is dangerous to drive quickly or fast around one of those pieces of equipment, and if you do have to pass, do so at the right time and slowly,” he said.

In its advisory, Environment Canada said residents may want to consider postponing any non-essential travel until conditions improve.

“Motorists should expect hazardous winter driving conditions and adjust travel plans accordingly. Avoid travel if possible. Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas,” it wrote.

Toronto Pearson International Airport is also monitoring the storm, it said in a tweet Friday.

“We are closely monitoring these weather systems, which have the potential to impact flights arriving and departing at Toronto Pearson,” the statement reads. “If you’re flying today, we recommend checking the status of your flight online.”