Blizzard Strands Motorists as 150 Vehicles Abandoned on Ontario Highway

A powerful weekend blizzard in southwestern Ontario brought Highway 402, the key route between London and Sarnia, to a standstill, leaving roughly 150 vehicles abandoned in deep snow as motorists tried to escape the storm’s fury. Officials reported that whiteout conditions and towering snowdrifts made driving nearly impossible, forcing many drivers to abandon their cars on the freeway.

The storm, which brought heavy snowfall and strong winds, caused highway closures from Friday night into Saturday, prompting the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to declare a significant weather event and issue warnings against travel as conditions deteriorated. Roads remained closed into Sunday as crews worked to clear the snow and check on stranded motorists.

Traditional emergency response vehicles struggled to access people trapped in snow-blocked areas, so local snowmobilers and farmers stepped in with snowmobiles, tractors and other equipment to help rescue stranded drivers and get them to safety. This community effort underscored how severe winter weather can overwhelm infrastructure and require improvised assistance.

Tow operators and emergency responders worked long hours to reach vehicles buried by snow, and authorities urged drivers to prepare properly before travelling in winter conditions by carrying supplies, fuel and ensuring communication devices were charged. Officials also reminded stranded drivers to stay with their vehicles if stuck to reduce risk.

The blizzard’s disruption across southwestern Ontario highlighted both the intensity of winter weather in the region and the importance of coordinated response efforts between provincial authorities, emergency services and community volunteers.