Some parts of city were buried under nearly 60cm of snow and over 500 flights were cancelled Sunday

Toronto is beginning to dig itself out from the largest snowfall in the city’s history, a process which officials say is likely to take “several days”.

Some parts of Canada’s largest city were buried under nearly 60cm of snow and more than 500 flights were cancelled Sunday after Toronto’s main airport was snowed in.

More than 88.2cm of snow have fallen at Pearson international airport this month, marking the snowiest January and snowiest month since records began in 1937.

The storm, which swept across much of North America at the weekend, prompted several school boards to take the rare step of announcing closures on Sunday evening – to the elation of Toronto students who received their second snow day of the month. Staff and families typically learn of closures early in the morning.