Spring today, winter tomorrow: Wednesday will feel like the 'dead of winter' in Ontario

Tuesday, March 11, 2014, 3:43 PM -

STORM WATCH: Tune into The Weather Network on TV for the latest coverage of this storm.

Rising temperatures, opened windows and melting snow.

Signs of spring have finally been popping up in parts of Ontario this week.

The bad news? That all comes to an end on Wednesday.

"A storm system from the United States will makes its up way the Appalachians bringing snow to southern Ontario and southern Quebec, heavy snow to New Brunswick, PEI and western Newfoundland and snow and freezing rain to Nova Scotia," says Weather Network meteorologist Dayna Vettese.

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"Despite mild temperatures in Ontario on Tuesday, temperatures will drop below freezing in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday as the main pulse of precipitation moves in from the U.S. Midwest," adds The Weather Network's chief meteorologist Chris Scott in his latest Insider's Insight. "This ensures that all of the precipitation falling during the day on Wednesday will be in the form of snow. In fact, temperatures will fall from near freezing at dawn to -10 by Wednesday evening. With gusty northeast winds, Wednesday will feel like the dead of winter."

We're loving today's editorial cartoon from the @globeandmail: pic.twitter.com/TCKd1cGLgm

— The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) March 10, 2014

Snow is expected to move in to southern Ontario early Wednesday morning, reaching the Greater Toronto Area through the morning hours and eastern Ontario Wednesday afternoon.

A winter storm warning was issued for parts of eastern Ontario early Tuesday , with up to 25 cm possible by Wednesday night.

"The snow will quickly become heavy at times and continues east into the Kingston to Cornwall region through Wednesday," says EC in the statement.

CHRIS SCOTT'S ANALYSIS: Wednesday snow storm potential in southern Ontario.

A winter storm warning has also been issued for parts of southwestern Ontario including Windsor, Essex and Chatham-Kent.

"Precipitation in the form of rain or wet snow and slight risk of freezing rain are expected over Windsor to Dunnville region," EC says.

Upwards of 15 cm of snow is expected in southwestern Ontario as well.

A special weather statement covers much of the GTA with between 5-15 cm possible through the day.

To make matters worse, brisk northwest winds between 40-50 km/h will result in blowing snow and poor driving conditions.

As a result, motorists are advised to exercise caution due to poor visibility in blowing snow.

"Time to reconsider non-essential travel tomorrow in southern Ontario, especially 401 corridor and south," Scott warns. "This storm will pack a punch."

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"The snowfall amounts will be dependent on the track of the system," Vettese says. "A more northerly track will mean more snow for southern Ontario and Quebec where a more southerly track would spell less snow."

Get an expert analysis of this developing storm from Chris Scott here.

Not epic, but certainly a snow storm for S'rn ON incl GTA for Wed. New GEM paints dead of winter picture #onstorm pic.twitter.com/xE4pu6ZdKP

— Chris Scott (@ChrisScottWx) March 11, 2014