Sunshine, showers, and storms: Ontario's Easter weekend will take some planning

If your Easter plans include any outdoor activities, you'll want to plan ahead with this changeable forecast across southern Ontario

The upcoming long weekend will feature a little of everything across southern Ontario including some sunshine, showers and thunderstorms. And, much like our spring so far, we will see changeable temperatures with a lack of any consistent warm weather. However, there will be opportunities to get outside to enjoy some pleasant spring conditions this Easter weekend.

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Gorgeous spring weather starts out the long weekend Thursday

We will head into the long weekend with gorgeous spring weather on Thursday, with abundant sunshine and near seasonal temperatures splashing through.

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But the sunshine won’t last. We will have increasing clouds during Thursday night and a couple periods of showers and thunderstorms are likely during Friday and Friday night as a warm front advances north into southern Ontario.

However, Friday will not be a washout, and there will be periods of dry weather and even some sunny breaks, especially near and south of the 401.

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Very mild, but with rain chances on Friday

For areas that are south of the warm front (across southwestern Ontario), we will actually get a brief taste of early summer weather with temperatures more typical of late May and June as temperatures soar well into the 20s. Meanwhile, temperatures will be more seasonal for mid-April across cottage country and eastern Ontario.

Baron - Friday temperatures southern Ontario - April 16

Friday night will be very mild with passing showers and thunderstorms.

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Showers will linger into Saturday, especially for areas near and south of the 401, but drier conditions will slowly push south across the region during the afternoon and evening.

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Gusty winds knock down temperatures on Saturday

High temperatures on Saturday will be during the morning and then temperatures will slowly fall through the day with a brisk northwest wind.

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Saturday night will be partly cloudy and chilly, especially across cottage country where temperatures will dip below freezing.

Baron - Saturday overnight temperatures southern Ontario - April 16

Sunshine returns for Sunday but much cooler day

Sunshine will return for Sunday across southern Ontario. The sunshine will mix with some clouds, especially across southwestern Ontario where a shower is possible towards evening, but overall Sunday will be the prettiest day of the long weekend.

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However, despite the sunshine, Sunday will be a rather cool day with temperatures a few degrees below seasonal, especially near the west end of Lake Ontario with a brisk east wind off the lake.

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Milder weather returns early next week, but still no consistent warmth to end April

A period of showers is expected during Monday, but the day won’t be a total washout and much milder temperatures will return to areas to the west and southwest of Toronto.

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Looking ahead to the final week of April, we still do not have any consistent warm weather in sight, but temperatures will be closer to seasonal for late April.

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