Ontario: Halloween storm risk haunts forecast after windy Wednesday
A soggy Tuesday is giving way to clearer skies but while the heaviest band pushes out of southern Ontario Tuesday night, that won't be the end of the rain. Gusty winds were already picking up Tuesday evening up across the southwest, and those winds will persist into Wednesday, spurring lake-effect showers -- and stripping a lot of the remaining leaves off of trees -- through the day. We take a look at what you can expect for the days ahead, and an early look at a significant system shaping up for Halloween next week, below.
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WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS:
Lake-effect showers likely Wednesday
Strong wind gusts expected through Wednesday evening
Potential for late month snow as a colder pattern locks in over the Great Lakes
Stay on top of the ALERTS in your area
GUSTY WINDS SPUR LAKE-EFFECT SHOWERS ON WEDNESDAY
The low pressure centre from Tuesday's soggy system will linger over northern Ontario on Wednesday, driving gusty west winds across much of southern Ontario, and strong northerly winds across the northwest.
Temperatures across the south will benefit from the wind direction, keeping afternoon highs on the warm side for the time of year. But those milder temperatures come at the cost of scattered lake-effect showers, mainly across cottage country and Niagara.
WATCH BELOW: TRACKING LINGERING SHOWERS FOR ONTARIO
Even those who don't see showers on Wednesday can expect to feel the impact of the winds, however, as gusts top 60 km/h through the afternoon. Higher gusts are likely along the lake shores.
FIRST LOOK: TRACKING A SIGNIFICANT STORM FOR HALLOWEEN
"We have been discussing the transition to a more consistently chilly pattern that would begin during the final week of October and continue well into early November. It now appears that the transition to a colder pattern will be delayed until Halloween," says meteorologist Dr. Doug Gillham. "The initial shots of frigid weather will take aim at the Prairies instead of the Great Lakes, and this will allow us to see some milder weather early next week as well."
The chilly weather is still set to arrive in time for Halloween, with forecasters now watching the potential for significant fall storm as the region transitions to the colder fall weather.
"It is too early to have confidence in the track and timing of this storm, but this could have a significant impact on Halloween," Gillham says.
Early November looks to bring a more definite colder pattern, and this will likely lead to some significant lake-effect snow in the traditional snowbelt regions.
Be sure to check back as we continue to track this first potential snow event.