Toronto finally records first snowfall, more possible this weekend
Toronto's snow drought finally ended this week
We finally saw measurable snow in Toronto on Thursday, marking one of the latest first snows ever recorded at the airport.
Thursday’s snow may have been the first round of flakes we could see this weekend as potent snow squalls develop across the Great Lakes region. Some communities in the traditional snow belt regions could see as much as 100 cm of snow through this weekend.
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We’ve endured one of our mildest autumns on record across Toronto. In fact, downtown Toronto still hadn’t fallen below the freezing mark as of Friday afternoon, marking 243 consecutive days above freezing—the longest such streak on record.
While there’s plenty to enjoy about a mild fall, the snow-lovers among us haven’t been happy with this turn of events.
Toronto-Pearson Airport reported 0.2 cm of snow on Thursday, Nov. 28, marking the second-latest first snowfall ever observed at the airport. The latest first snow ever recorded at Pearson occurred on December 1, 2009—so we missed tying the record by just a few days.
Small snow chances heading into the weekend
As lake-effect bands drop copious amounts of snow near Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) will remain relatively snow-free throughout the duration of the event. There is the chance for some locations in the GTA to see some passing flurries into Saturday, but Toronto should escape the flakes.
Temperatures across the region will be chilly, hovering right around the freezing mark. The cold temperatures will remain in place for much of the distant future.
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On Sunday, cold temperatures will remain, meaning that any precipitation that falls could be snow. As the lake-effect snow squalls continue off the Great Lakes, the winds will shift throughout the day, causing the bands to sink further south.
It’s this shift that could bring the potential for snow into Toronto and the GTA. The best chance for flurries will be in the late afternoon into the overnight, as a quick burst of accumulating snow will roll through the GTA.
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With the potential for bursts of snow, drivers could contend with periods of reduced visibility along the major highways in the region.
If you are headed up north for the weekend, be sure to check road and weather conditions before you go as heavy snow is expected along the snowbelt, with upwards of 100 cm or more forecast for some regions.
