As a storm precaution, most schools in the GTA will be closed tomorrow and many major attractions across Toronto have announced they’ll be closed tomorrow. Warnings and watches cover much of the province as a major winter storm arrives Friday.

Rain begins later Thursday but as temperature drops, there’s the risk of a flash freeze before it changes to snow Friday morning creating icy conditions.

In Toronto, 5 to 15 cm of snow is expected along with fierce winds that could create blizzard conditions.

Speaking with CP24, Environment Canada’s Dave Phillips says prepare for slips and falls.

“You’ll have to walk like a penguin and that’s really a concern with a lot of broken ankles and hospital visits because of those slips and falls and that my turn out to be the nasty aspect of this storm.”

More than 1,000 flights have been cancelled by WestJet and Air Canada in recent days.

Air passenger rights spokesman Gábor Lukács, a frequent guest on Zoomer Radio’s Fight Back with Libby Znaimer, airlines can’t explain every cancellation on the weather.

“When we expect weather to disrupt travel to a particular region, in this case Toronto, it’s perfectly reasonable based on scientific data to cancel some flights, but what is more troubling is when the airlines try to claim that flights say in Toronto and Calgary care cancelled on Tuesday or Wednesday, because of what’s happening in Vancouver so airling should not be permitted to get away with blaming everything on weather happening thousands of kilometers away.”

Those flying out of Toronto’s Pearson Thursday are being warned the weather could impact airport operations.