Ontario: After more snow and ice, a peek at a weekend storm

Digital WritersThe Weather Network
Digital Writers

An evening of freezing rain threat will give way to a warmer end to the week, but we're already watching the Next One

A difficult evening of travel looms for much of southern Ontario, lingering into the morning in some areas, as a system creeping up from the south spreads a mix of weather across the region.

More details on how travel may be affected into Thursday, plus a look at the potential for another messy (and very windy) system for the weekend


WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Texas low moving into southern Ontario Wednesday evening, with rain, snow and ice all possible

  • Travel may be affected with untreated surfaces becoming icy and slippery

  • Cold temperatures ease; warming above seasonal by Thursday

  • Latest weather alerts HERE


ANOTHER MESSY SYSTEM WITH SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN

Full-fledged freezing rain warnings were issued ahead of the incoming system, ranging from London to Brockville, and light freezing rain and drizzle will track through southern Ontario, reaching as far north as southern Georgian Bay and as far east as Kingston.

Light freezing drizzle will last through the overnight into early Thursday morning in some areas, particularly the east.

For northern Ontario and the Ottawa region, overnight snow lasts through Thursday morning, heaviest in the north, where some 5-10 cm is possible.

ONICEFeb20

BEWARE OF ICY SURFACES

Travel could be impacted for some drivers as untreated surfaces may become icy and slippery.

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"Precipitation amounts will be considerably lighter than what we saw last week, however," says Weather Network meteorologist Dr. Doug Gillham. "Power outages are not expected, but untreated surfaces will become very icy."

The bulk of the moisture from this system will remain state-side and therefore about 5-10 cm will be the maximum snow accumulation from Ottawa through central Ontario.

RECOVERING TEMPERATURES, BUT ACCOMPANIED BY ANOTHER STORM

Temperatures have been on the up since extreme cold warnings were issued earlier in the week, with daytime highs at or a smidgeon above freezing across most of the south Thursday, and even milder temperatures beckoning for Friday.

However, cloudier weather is ahead as forecasters keep an eye on the next storm.

"A Texas low pressure is expected to develop Friday night into Saturday morning and quickly track toward the Great Lakes over the weekend," the Weather Network Forecast Centre says. "This low is expected to undergo rapid intensification as it approaches the Great Lakes, crossing the region as a powerful low."

FROM THE MET DESK: WATCHING FOR A WEEKEND STORM

Snow is possible in norhtwestern Ontario Saturday morning, while rain pushes into the south by the evening, continuing into Sunday morning. A cold front will race across southern Ontario during Sunday and rain showers will change to snow showers west to east through Sunday afternoon.

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But in terms of impact, the storm's most powerful manifestation will be very strong winds near the eastern and northeastern shorelines of the Great Lakes Sunday afternoon-night. Presently, the winds look to be in the 70-100 km/h range, but gusts exceeding 110 km/h are not out of the question.

STAYING LOCKED IN AN ACTIVE PATTERN

Colder weather will also return to the region for early next week, as we watch the potential for yet another system for the middle of next week with the threat for another round of significant snow.

For the second half of February, southern Ontario will continue to be the "battle zone" between cold arctic air and the milder air from the Gulf of Mexico, keeping the region locked into an active weather pattern.

"As we head towards the start of March, the focus of the colder weather will shift back towards the Great Lakes with colder than normal temperatures expected to dominate during the first half of March," says Gillham, adding that this shift in the pattern is substanially delayed from what was initially expected.

WATCH BELOW: FEBRUARY AND STILL LAKE EFFECT SNOW. ARE THE LAKES FINALLY FROZEN? WHAT GIVES?