After the first widespread system snow of the season hit much of southern and eastern Ontario on Wednesday, the snowbelt regions are back in the target zone for more dangerous lake-effect snow squalls and heavy accumulations through Thursday.
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In some of the harder-hit areas, including London, another 20-40+ cm of snow could fall. All London District Catholic School Board and Thames Valley District School Board schools are closed due to the deteriorating conditions. Sections of Highway 401 and 402 were also closed early Thursday, with more road closures likely throughout the day.
Winter weather travel advisories were also issued around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) first thing Thursday morning, warning of bursts of snow, and significantly reduced visibility at times. Winds will be gusting up to 60 km/h, so be sure to take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are reminding motorists to ‘know before you go’ and to use resources like 511 Ontario for up-to-date road conditions and closures. Be sure to stay up to date on all of the weather warnings in your area, as well, and have a plan in place as conditions worsen.
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Beyond the snow, Friday will be the coldest day of the season so far, with Toronto’s daytime high falling below 0°C for the first time since March 22. Will the frigid air persist? See more of the forecast details, below.
Thursday: More snow squalls and dangerous travel conditions
Northwesterly winds will set up again through Thursday, developing snow squalls off of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Areas impacted will be along Highway 26 off of Georgian Bay, stretching from Thornbury to Wasaga Beach, extending through Creemore, Angus, and into the northern sections of the GTA at times.
The heaviest snow accumulations will be closer to Georgian Bay, with 10-20 cm expected. Some northern parts of the GTA could still see between 5-15 cm, as well.
A quick burst of a couple centimetres of snow is possible in northern Toronto, with the Hamilton area seeing closer to 5 cm. The snow, combined with gusty winds, could significantly reduce visibility at times. A winter weather travel advisory is in effect warning motorists to expect hazardous winter driving conditions and adjust travel plans accordingly.
The other dangerous squalls will develop off of Lake Huron, from Port Elgin and Singhampton, reaching down to south of Grand Bend. Difficult travel is expected, especially near Lake Huron and south of Georgian Bay, during the day Thursday.
The strongest squall is forecast to be near the southern part of that region near Grand Bend, and will meander through London at times. Heavy accumulations of 20-40+ cm are expected southwest of London.
With the squalls we have off of Lake Huron, strong wind gusts will accompany them. This can create whiteout and blizzard conditions very locally around the squalls. Peak gusts of 50-70 km/h are expected before slowly decreasing into the evening hours on Thursday.
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Friday: Coldest conditions of the season so far, more weekend snow
By Friday, wind directions shift from the west, moving the squalls along Highway 21 and north of Barrie, with continued snowbelt snowfall forecast through the day.
Friday will also be the coldest day of the season, with Toronto’s daytime high falling below 0°C for the first time in over 8 months.
Meanwhile, we’re also monitoring another clipper, which is expected to track north of the region late Saturday with widespread snow, primarily north and east of Toronto, with 2 to 5+ cm possible. The plus side to this system is that it will also cause a warm front to lift north, bringing in much milder temperatures for Sunday—rising well above freezing.
Milder and changeable temperatures are expected for next week, with a more active pattern kicking in for mid and late December. There’s the potential for messy systems and rain, as the region will become the battleground between the Arctic air to the northwest, and much milder weather to the south.
Keep safety in mind
With all of this early winter snow, the OPP reminds motorists to ensure they are prepared for any situation by driving appropriately for the road and weather conditions. Remember to have an emergency kit in your vehicle, ensure sufficient fuel/battery level with a reserve, and plan ahead by monitoring local media reports for road conditions and weather updates.
Motorists who find themselves stranded on roads are encouraged to remain calm, stay in their vehicle, and consider teaming up with other drivers until help arrives.
The OPP is working with the Ministry of Transportation and other road crews to keep an eye on the weather and get ready for any upcoming storms.
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Stay with The Weather Network for more forecast information and updates on your weather across Ontario.