May begins with multiple snow chances across Ontario
April showers bring May snow? Snowfall possible across Ontario as the month of May begins
Ontario residents are set to experience a cool start to May as an upper-level low anchors itself over the province this weekend. This weather pattern will bring a mix of sun, clouds, showers, and, in some regions, wet snow flurries.
SEE ALSO: Canada’s late-week temperature shift: March chill vs. early-summer warmth
This won't be the last of it, either. Expect below-seasonal temperatures to persist into the first week of the month due to a trough in the jet stream over the Great Lakes. This trough will allow pieces of ‘energy’ or disturbances to sink into the region from the north, bringing unsettled weather with rain and snow.
Snow chances across Ontario
Central and northeastern Ontario are most likely to see periods of snow flurries through the end of this week and into the weekend.
In southern Ontario, higher elevations may encounter flurries or light rain-and-snow mix during overnight and early morning hours, though no accumulations are anticipated.
A system arriving Sunday into Monday could bring accumulating snow to northwestern and northern Ontario.
Some areas in far northern Ontario may see 5-10 cm or more of snowfall as significant precipitation accompanies this disturbance.
By mid-to-late next week, additional snow could track farther south, with portions of southern Ontario potentially impacted if cold air, and an active storm system converge.
May snow: A seasonal reality
While snow in May may seem unusual for some regions, historical snowfall data supports this occurrence. Places like Sudbury and Kapuskasing typically record measurable May snowfalls. For example, Sudbury received 10 cm on May 1, 2019. On May 11, 2020 2.8 cm of snow actually fell in Toronto, as well.
RELATED: May can bring Canada 30-degree heat and late-spring snows
Normal early May highs in southern Ontario sit around the mid-teens, but steadily climb to the low 20s by month’s end.
Stay updated as this dynamic pattern evolves, and check for any further advisories as wet snow and cooler temperatures linger.
Stay with The Weather Network for more information and updates on your forecast across Ontario.