20-40 cm: Dangerous blizzard conditions and snowsqualls hit Ontario
A prolonged winter weather event is impacting much of southern Ontario, with blizzard warnings, snow squalls, and blowing snow advisories in place for snowbelt regions, leading to hazardous travel conditions
A multi-day winter weather event has prompted widespread alerts across Ontario, including a blizzard warning, as strong winds and snow ramp up through the day on Monday. Snow squalls, and blowing snow advisories are in effect for the snowbelts as well, creating treacherous travel conditions and some significant snowfall amounts.
In areas affected by the squalls, visibility could drop to near-zero at times due to wind gusts reaching 60-90 km/h in some locations. Blowing snow and reduced visibility may lead to an increased risk of travel delays and road closures during the most intense squalls.
Some of the harder-hit areas could see 20-40 cm of snowfall through Tuesday.
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Additional hazards are also anticipated. Dangerously cold temperatures are forecast across Ontario as Arctic air settles over the region by the weekend. In northern areas, lows could approach -40°C.
Snow squalls and blizzard conditions grip southern Ontario Monday
A weather system moving in from the Prairies is bringing heavy, localized snowfall to the Great Lakes region, with intense snow squalls and strong winds expected to peak by Monday afternoon and evening.
Snow squalls will create challenging travel conditions in numerous areas.
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From Kingston to Cobourg and west to Oshawa along Highway 401, including Prince Edward County, bands of heavy snow and blowing snow will significantly impact visibility. Prince Edward County is under a blizzard warning, with 70-90 km/h wind gusts and 20-30 cm of snowfall expected. A widespread blowing snow advisory is also in effect.
The snowbelts off Lake Huron and Georgian Bay will feel prolonged impacts, with 70-90 km/h gusts and snowfall amounts between 20-40 cm. The north shore of Lake Erie, including Niagara Falls, Welland, and Fort Erie, has snowsquall warnings, with 10-20 cm of snowfall and similar wind gusts.
Areas downwind of Georgian Bay should stay particularly alert by Monday evening, as traditional snow squalls with cooler westerly winds bring an additional 15-25 cm by Tuesday morning. Rapidly changing conditions and near-zero visibility within squalls will likely cause travel disruptions.
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Blowing snow continues Tuesday as a another snow system arrives
Blowing snow will persist into Tuesday morning before gradually lifting northward and easing through the day. However, another system from the Prairies will bring widespread snowfall to southern Ontario mid-week, with 5-10 cm expected in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
By the weekend, frigid Arctic air will settle over the Great Lakes Basin. Daytime highs are forecast to remain in the minus teens for much of Ontario on Saturday.
Dangerous cold snap takes hold by the weekend
The cold snap will keep temperatures below seasonal averages through the rest of January. In Ottawa, overnight lows could dip to -21°C on Saturday, marking the city's coldest temperature in 10 years if the forecast holds.
Northern Ontario will see even more extreme conditions, with pockets of the region experiencing temperatures near -40°C during the peak of the cold snap. Northeastern Ontario can expect widespread temperatures close to -30°C during this period.