Unsettled weather pattern across southern and central Ontario for Halloween
Digital Reporter
Thursday, October 30, 2014, 6:35 PM - A low pressure system is threatening to bring up to 15 cm of snow to parts of Ontario between Thursday and Saturday. Here are five things you need to know.
1. Rain for the GTA, snow elsewhere
"While rain is primarily on tap for the GTA, widespread snow is in the forecast for regions east of Lake Superior and northeast of Georgian Bay," says Weather Network meteorologist Brett Soderholm.
That includes the Nickel Belt, which could get up to 15 cm of snow by the time all is said and done.
EXTENDED ACTIVE WEATHER COVERAGE: Tune in to The Weather Network on TV for continued updates on this system
2. Timing
The system is expected to remain in the province from Thursday night to Saturday morning, with the height of the storm occurring Friday.
"Snow will being to fall during the pre-dawn hours Friday for Sudbury and gradually taper off during the afternoon," Soderholm says.
3. Accumulation
- West of Sudbury and eastward to North Bay: 5-10 cm of snow
- Lake Nippissing (including Sundridge and east toward Algonquin Park): 10-15 cm of snow
- Bracebridge towards Barrie: Less than 5 cm of snow
- Near Orangeville (in higher elevations): 2-4 cm of snow
Parts of the GTA may see less than a centimetre of snow.
4. Wind
"Strong winds are expected to build throughout Friday afternoon across much of southern and central Ontario, leading to particularly gusty conditions along the eastern shores of Lake Huron and the Georgian Bay," Soderholm says.
Gusts up to 80 km/h in this region are expected.
5. Forecast confidence
While there's moderate confidence some areas will see accumulating snowfall, there remains some uncertainty in the exact snowfall totals.
"Marginal temperatures could result in a few centimetres of deviation," Soderholm says.
Current models suggest the highest accumulation is expected between Huntsville and North Bay.
TUNE IN ON TV:
- Krissy Vann will be heading to Sudbury to cover this system as it rolls in Friday.
- Chris Dawson will be reporting from North Bay Friday and Saturday.
- Mike Arsenault will be covering the trick-or-treating hours in Port Perry and the GTA.
