Closures announced as southern Ontario readies for disruptive winter storm
Travel conditions are worsening in some locales as heavy snow moves into southern Ontario Wednesday evening
The February winter storm frenzy is relentless across Ontario, with two more significant storms to watch for this week.
The first, a Texas low, has prompted widespread snowfall and winter storm warnings across most of the province, with some of the biggest accumulations of the season so far set to blast major areas including Toronto, and Ottawa.
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The quickly deteriorating conditions on Wednesday will likely result in hazardous travel, with cancellations or closures a near guarantee into Thursday. In all, between 15-35+ cm of snow will fall throughout the province, with peak snowfall rates hitting 2-4+ cm an hour at times.
The City of Toronto has declared this a 'major snowstorm condition and significant weather event' ahead of snow operations. The declarations will come into effect at 10 p.m. Wednesday night.
As well, some school boards have started cancelling school buses and vans for Thursday, including in Ottawa, where all buses have been cancelled, and the Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) and Lindsay, Ont. Another closure for Thursday is the Toronto Zoo, announced on Wednesday.
If your plans are flexible, delaying non-essential travel on Thursday morning could save you from a stressful and dangerous commute. Emergency service vehicles also rely on clear roads to be able to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies.
Be sure to keep up-to-date on your local weather alerts, and always check the highway conditions before heading out.
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Timing:
Snow began to spread into southwestern Ontario and the GTA during the late afternoon and evening hours on Wednesday.
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The snow will quickly become widespread across central and southern Ontario through Wednesday night, and continue into the pre-dawn hours of Thursday. Snowfall rates at times may increase to more than two cm an hour, leading to reduced visibility and difficult travel conditions.
By late Wednesday night, and into early Thursday morning, the snow will pick up in intensity for eastern Ontario, including the Ottawa Valley.
The worst conditions of the entire storm will occur across the east early Thursday, with intense snowfall rates of 2 to 4 cm an hour impacting the region.
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The system will continue to pull off towards the east, with lingering light snow and flurries still falling through Thursday morning for southwestern Ontario.
Snow will also continue across the GTA early Thursday, certainly making for a long morning of shoveling and commuting for many. You'll want to consider remote work options, but if driving is unavoidable, definitely allow extra time and be ready for delays.
Lake-effect snow, and gusty winds are forecast to pick up in the wake of the low Thursday across southern Ontario, with the the traditional snowbelt areas forecast to see the lake-effect snow squalls continue into the end of the work week.
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While some clearing occurs, lingering light snow continues for parts of extreme eastern Ontario, including Ottawa, through Thursday evening.
Storm impacts:
Land and air travel are highly likely to face disruptions with the high snowfall totals forecast with this system.
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Snowfall totals, and the higher snowfall rates at times, will certainly make for slower drives and slick roads.
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Gusty winds ahead and behind the low also threaten to blow around any recent accumulations, with snow drifts causing reduced visibility and dangerous whiteouts on the roads.
Drivers are urged to consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.
Major snowfall totals:
This one event will likely bring some of the greatest snowfall totals of the season so far to Toronto and Ottawa.
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The highest snowfall accumulations will stretch north of the GTA, through cottage country, and towards the Ottawa Valley, with 25-35 cm of snow forecast.
Snowfall totals will be much less towards the shores of Lake Erie, as rain and mixing is forecast.
A higher range of snowfall totals are also expected across the GTA, with Toronto likely to see between 15-25 cm.
Next snowstorm lines up for Family Day long weekend
Fair weather is likely on Friday, but this will only be a brief breather, with another winter storm expected to impact the region on the weekend. It is still early to have confidence in the storm track and impacts, but widespread totals of 10-20+cm are expected on Saturday and Sunday, once again.
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Frigid conditions are likely for Family Day, as well, with high temperatures sitting in the minus teens. Bands of lake-effect snow are expected early next week, and then the risk for another significant system or two later in the week.
The next two weeks could really shape how this winter is remembered across the region. Colder-than-normal temperatures are expected to dominate through the end of February and into March.
Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on your forecast across Ontario.
Thumbnail courtesy of Toronto public transit (Toronto Transit Commission).