Sunday, December 15, 2024

Mercury climbs in southern Ontario, but will bring freezing rain risk

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Are you ready for a bit of temperature relief behind this system? Sunday and Monday will bring about a mild break from the snowy pattern that’s been draped over southern Ontario.

However, look out for slick roads to persist through Sunday in southern Ontario.

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And the messy roads will persist on Monday, too, as there will be some particularly dicey weather for some locales, including in the northern edge of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), cottage country and eastern Ontario, come Monday morning.

The mild temperatures from merging air masses will yield a threat for freezing rain to start the new week. Brace for slow, messy commutes on Monday as road conditions will be slippery.

This week: Milder air brings freezing rain risk Monday

That clipper system will help drag warmer air north of the border, lending southern Ontario a few days of milder temperatures before we take a dip again by the second half of this week.

Ontario freezing rain accumulation Monday

Ontario freezing rain accumulation Monday

Merging air masses from Alberta and Texas will clash over the Great Lakes on Monday, leading to showers and a chance of freezing rain.

The uncertainty to how dominant the warm air will be is raising concerns for freezing rain, especially in the northern edge of the GTA, in cottage country and eastern Ontario.

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Ontario forecast conditions Monday AMOntario forecast conditions Monday AM

Ontario forecast conditions Monday AM

A few centimetres of snow will precede the freezing rain risk, especially in cottage country and eastern Ontario.

As a result, expect slow, messy commutes Monday as road conditions will be slippery.

Ontario forecast conditions Monday afternoonOntario forecast conditions Monday afternoon

Ontario forecast conditions Monday afternoon

Ice accretion in the northern GTA will coincide with the morning commute, and continue into the early-afternoon before transitioning to rain.

Central Ontario and the Nickel Belt could see icing continue through the evening, potentially turning back to snow. Ottawa is looking at 3-5 cm of snow before the freezing rain risk moves in, primarily in the overnight hours Monday.

Ontario snowfall accumulation through MondayOntario snowfall accumulation through Monday

Ontario snowfall accumulation through Monday

Another system expected to develop over the U.S. Midwest on Tuesday will track into southern Ontario with widespread rain Tuesday night. There’s also the potential for snow for some areas well to the west of the storm track as a cold front approaches the region.

A strong cold front is expected to track across the region on Wednesday, followed by a quick shot of Arctic air with temperatures a few degrees colder than seasonal. This should trigger another round of significant lake-effect snow by Wednesday night.

Much milder weather is expected to arrive for the weekend, with that warmer pattern dominating into mid-December. We’ll be watching the potential for a colder pattern to kick in during late December and early January.

WATCH: Explained: Ice pellets, graupel and freezing rain

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Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across Ontario.

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