PHOTOS: Ottawa sees 50 centimetres of snow in 1 day

Ottawa is digging out of a storm that dumped half a metre of snow in the nation’s capital.

A severe storm hit eastern Ontario and western Quebec Tuesday. Environment Canada says there were times in Ottawa that snow was piling up at a rate of four centimetres an hour.

In all, Ottawa saw 50 cm of snow, shattering the one-day record for snowfall of 40.6 cm set back in March of 1947.

The slick conditions made roads treacherous, with numerous collisions and countless cars and city buses getting stuck, and several flights were cancelled or delayed at Ottawa’s airport.

The only way to travel on a #snowday! Dog sledding through the streets of #Ottawa. @BlacksWeather @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/a8i3gH5SIu

— Nancy (@NancyFromCanada) February 16, 2016

Look at all those windshield wipers. #otttraffic #ottnews #ottweather pic.twitter.com/SGPpvMb9wT

— Cody G (@Codrouge) February 16, 2016

#Traffic: Ottawa #HWY417 near Woodroffe, traffic is slow moving due to weather conditions. Use caution #traffic pic.twitter.com/xjUexCuTxN

— 511Ontario (@511Ontario) February 16, 2016

TY @CalabogiePeaks & mother nature for one of the best ski days in memory. Knee deep in the east. Fantastic powder. pic.twitter.com/SHdf9v45OS

— ChiefMNolan (@ChiefMNolan) February 16, 2016

Good thing my housemate didnt have any where to go today. #SnowedIn #ygk @YGKTraffic @RobJamesMorgan #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/GkvjoPhCLL

— Fraser McDonald (@FrasSpaz) February 16, 2016

An act of kindness as 2 guys carry her onto street and place her on the bus. 40+cm of snow. #Ottawa pic.twitter.com/2IH0PyuWRv

— Megan Blumenthal (@MegBlumenthal) February 16, 2016

It’s dark but we are still on our #snowmobiles to serve and protect you in #Gatineau! Drive safely #snowday #traffic pic.twitter.com/Zp6WuAZVvt

— PoliceGatineau (@PoliceGatineau) February 16, 2016

I used to have a porch and 4 steps down. #Ottawa pic.twitter.com/vLo4PSAfKV

— Andrew Symes (@FailedProtostar) February 17, 2016

Two modes of transport, guess which one we’re using tonight? #ottawasnow pic.twitter.com/cnOXRHwG4x

— Paul Dewar (@PaulDewar) February 17, 2016

Morning after the snow @CBCOttawa @weathernetwork #ShareYourWeather #ottawa pic.twitter.com/tUR2zzgLzN

— Michael Gale (@michaeljgale) February 17, 2016

#Ottawa got 50 cm of snow yesterday. A record! That’s insane even for Ottawa. My car was buried . pic.twitter.com/47u19W7aYZ

— Catherine Hessian (@cathinott) February 17, 2016

With files from the Canadian Press.