Warm-up, but messy weather awaits Ontario on the first day of spring
The start of spring is nearly here! There will be a chance for rain, flurries and even freezing rain in southern Ontario as a quick warm-up (for some) arrives just in time for the spring equinox on Friday
Multiple, fast-moving storms will impact Ontario for the remainder of the week. These systems follow a shift in the national weather pattern, putting the region in the path of an active storm track leading into the weekend.
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Stay updated for further details as these systems develop, including potential impacts to travel and outdoor plans. Be sure to keep an eye on the road conditions before heading out, as well.
Active storm track brings multiple clippers to Ontario this week
Mild Pacific air, driven by an ongoing atmospheric river in B.C. and a high-pressure system in the western U.S., is influencing Ontario's approaching weather pattern.
From Wednesday night to Thursday, a weak system will spread some periods of flurries across central, and parts of southern and eastern, Ontario.
Minor amounts of 2-5 cm are expected for central Ontario, while southern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) can expect a trace to a few centimetres at most.
A second clipper moves in from the Prairies on Friday, spreading a possible 5-10 cm in a narrow band of snow.
The track of this system is still slightly uncertain with the chances of snow possibly trending farther south towards southern Ontario. Keep an eye on the forecast.
There will be showers and even some icy precipitation moving through in the pre-dawn hours Friday, and through the day.
Breezy winds will be out of the south, with gusts of 30-60 km/h.
Temperatures across southwestern Ontario will climb towards the end of the week. It will be perfectly timed with the first day of spring, with low- to mid-teens likely for some areas.
Another system and boundary of moisture will spread across Ontario for the weekend, bringing a swath of snow, some ice and rain. South of the boundary will be mild while north of it will remain near or below the freezing mark.
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Early next week is expected to be rather cold. Changeable temperatures, but overall, near normal or colder than normal, and an active pattern are expected for the final week of March and into early April.