Cold air supports more snow in parts of Ontario, brace for slower travel
Thursday morning's commute could be slower in parts of Ontario as a low-pressure system brings heavy, fluffy snowfall. Parts of the GTA and the 401 corridor could see accumulations of up to 25 cm. Weather alerts are also in place for snowsqualls in some areas
Cold air is pushing south, bringing increased snowfall and a complex forecast for parts of Ontario and Quebec.
Prepare for potential travel delays through Thursday as multiple commutes may be affected. Between 5-25 cm of snow is expected, with blustery winds accompanying the system and reducing visibility at times.
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Frigid Arctic air will take hold next week, bringing lake-effect snowsqualls to snowbelt regions east and southeast of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Winter weather conditions are anticipated to persist through the end of the month, so be sure to stay up-to-date on the weather and alerts in your area.
Snowfall rates pick up Wednesday night and Thursday morning
Light snow and a wintry mix will persist across central and southern Ontario into Wednesday afternoon. Snowfall intensity is expected to pick up through the evening and overnight, especially in communities along the southern Great Lakes, including the southern Golden Horseshoe, parts of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and Prince Edward County.
This increase in snowfall is driven by a strengthening upper-level low tracking south of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, enhancing snowfall rates and totals. Snowfall rates of 1-2 cm/h are expected for the GTA and parts of eastern Ontario overnight, continuing into early Thursday morning.
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Snow will taper west to east by Thursday afternoon, but the Ottawa Valley may experience snowfall through much of the day.
Projected accumulations for the GTA range from 10-20 cm, though these totals remain uncertain and could climb. Between 10-25 cm is likely for regions east, including Ottawa and Montreal.
Blustery winds accompanying the system may lead to blowing and drifting snow, reducing visibility at times. Lake-enhanced and lake-effect snow squalls could create higher accumulations in snowbelt regions.
Frigid cold returns
Temperatures in southern Ontario will steadily drop throughout Wednesday, as well. A significant cooldown is expected, with temperatures falling by 10-15°C between Wednesday and Thursday.
Overnight into Thursday, colder air will spread, bringing daytime highs in the minus double digits. Wind chills could make it feel closer to the -20s.
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While a slight temperature rebound is possible by the weekend's start, another surge of Arctic air is forecast to push south, keeping cold conditions entrenched well into next week.
Snowy pattern locks in for the days ahead
Snow is expected to return to parts of the province late this week and into the weekend, with rounds of snowfall in the forecast for Friday, Saturday, and Monday.
A winter weather pattern is expected to persist through the end of January, with a close eye on the potential development of Colorado, Texas, and Gulf lows that could move northward across eastern North America. While there is a chance the storm track may remain too far south to significantly affect the region, this pattern increases the likelihood of notable winter storms in affected areas.
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Be sure to check back for the latest weather updates across Ontario.