The first storm of the winter season is heading our way.

A disturbance out of the US midwest will track towards the Great Lakes today. Ahead of the disturbance, snow is expected to reach Southwestern Ontario tonight and then spread into the rest of Southern Ontario tomorrow.

Environment Canada says current indications are for five-to-ten centimetres in Toronto. Some other areas around Lake Ontario could get up to 15 centimetres.

City plows will hit the streets once the snow begins to accumulate. Public Works Commission Chair Denzil Minan-Wong says the public can help in several ways. Firstly, he says, during the storm, don’t drive unless you have to, or use public transit. Minan-Wong says fewer cars on the street will help the snow removal. Secondly, he says it’s important not to shovel snow onto the streets. Minan-Wong says it’s dangerous, and makes the removal process more difficult.

The city will begin clearing expressways once a couple of centimetres have fallen. They will expand to major streets at five centimetres, and side streets at eight centimetres.