The Weather Network
Welcome

More than 450 cm of snow: Ontario areas see totals taller than a giraffe

Nathan Howes and Tyler HamiltonDigital Journalist and Meteorologist
Published on Mar. 23, 2026, 6:32 PM

Holy giraffe! Snowfall amounts you can measure by the hundreds of centimetres were documented in these Ontario communities this winter

If you reside in or near Orillia, Ont., you may get the feeling you just finished reliving the 2024-25 winter all over again.

Last winter nearly topped the Sunshine City’s snowiest winter on record, recording 485.4 centimetres of snowfall, according to a local weather watcher. That season also included Orillia’s snowiest February on record.

SEE ALSO: As tall as a giraffe: Snow total nears record levels in Canadian city

And now, it looks like Orillia has done it again.

In fact, it appears the city saw even more snowfall this winter than the previous season–-enough to set a new, all-time record.

Orillia, Ont. snowfall for 2025-26 winter is now giraffe-sized

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) data, as of March 21, Orillia has documented 492 centimetres of snow, usurping 2024-25’s total of 485.4 centimetres. That is also enough to topple its record-high of 490.1 centimetres that was documented in the winter of 1995-96.

It should be mentioned that David Brain, local weather watcher, told Orillia Matters that the cottage country community recorded at least 493.4 centimetres of snowfall this season, confirming the total is a new record.

Content continues below

He also noted that a typical winter in the Orillia region averages around 280 centimetres of snowfall, while the 2023-24 season, interestingly enough, recorded just 230 centimetres

Orillia wasn't the snowfall leader this winter

While its 2025-26 snowfall amount is noteworthy, at least two other communities--one within a short driving distance of Orillia--recorded quite a bit more than the Sunshine City did this winter.

Lake Huron-Georgian Bay communities 2025-26 snow depth

An ECCC weather station in Coldwater-Warminster, Ont., accumulated 539 cm of snowfall this winter, as of March 21.

On top of that, Coldwater-Warminster was ousted by Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., by a mere centimetre (540 centimetres).

As of March 21, here are the Canadian/Ontario cities that have registered as much snowfall as the height of a giraffe, or larger than that, this winter.

Great Lakes region snowfall totals 2025-26 season (as of March 21)

  • Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.: 540 cm

  • Coldwater, Ont.: 539 cm

  • Orillia, Ont.: 492 cm

  • Minesing, Ont.: 467 cm

  • Flesherton, Ont.: 467 cm

  • Wiarton, Ont. 448 cm

The highest totals have been largely dominated by a clear, lake-effect signal off of Georgian Bay, Lake Superior and Lake Huron.