Why is there so much snow in Ontario, and is there any relief in sight?
A month's worth of snow has already hit several major cities in Ontario, with even more snow forecast as we end this first week of December
It's still early December, but these back-to-back days of epic snow squalls across Ontario may have some feeling like it's the heart of winter.
The first widespread system snow of the season also led to several bus cancellations and car accidents in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Ottawa region through Thursday.
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So what's happening, and is there an end in sight?
During the first four days of December alone, London, Ont. received an entire month's worth of snow. Over 50 cm fell, with the average for December sitting at 44.2 cm.
For areas further north, snow totals have been even more significant, with more than 100 cm reported from November 28 to December 1.
The normal snowfall amount for Gravenhurst in December is 77 cm, but the region saw almost 150 cm in just a few days alone.
It's been the perfect recipe. Cold winds blowing over the warm lakes can produce some of the most dramatic and efficient snowfall events.
You can consider snow squalls as the "thunderstorms of winter," and being convective, they can deliver these overwhelming snow totals, as seen over the past several days. These convective engines are generated by the temperature difference of cold air passing over a warmer lake.
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There will be some relief coming soon, but there will be a bit of a price to pay, as well.
In the short range, expect more snow.
The coldest temperatures of the season are expected on Friday, with Toronto's daytime high sitting below 0°C for the first time since March 22. This will help with yet another day of moving, and dangerous snow squalls.
Near London, an additional 20-40+ cm is possible through Friday, with another 15-25 cm forecast in the snowbelt regions, too.
This weekend, a snowy system from the north is likely across northern and eastern Ontario, potentially clipping the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with a few more centimetres later on Saturday.
Beyond the weekend, there are some signs of the pattern shifting.
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Winds from the south take over, and our an active storm track then shifts from the snowy north to the milder south. By next week, temperatures return to above normal, with the warmer air halting the lake-effect snow.
However, it wont be all sunshine and mild winter temperatures.
Expect widespread rain by Monday as a system from the U.S. moves through. There is a risk for brief mixed precipitation as the storm rolls into Ottawa, as well.
December's overall pattern continues to look quite active next weekend and beyond.
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Stay with The Weather Network for more forecast information and updates on your weather across Ontario.
With files from Tyler Hamilton, a meteorologist at The Weather Network
