Dangerous travel conditions will persist into the weekend across parts of southern Ontario as wicked snow squalls meander across the region.
Substantial snowfall totals are forecast, along with extensive blowing and drifting snow that could make travel next to impossible at times.
“Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve,” says Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in its snow squall warning.
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We could see some flurries could push into the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as the squalls meander about, but accumulations will be minimal compared to the 30-60 cm of snow expected in the heaviest squalls through Sunday.
Another long duration lake-effect event is likely during the second week of January. Ski areas will both receive an abundance of snow and have the ability to make snow, as well.
Keep an eye on local weather alerts and highway conditions before you hit the roads.
WATCH BELOW: Multi-day snow squalls leading to hazardous travel in southern Ontario
Snow squalls will be on the move Friday and Saturday
This latest bout of lake-effect snow arrives courtesy of Arctic air spilling into the Great Lakes region from the Prairies. The lakes remain ice-free, allowing potent snow squalls to whip across southern Ontario’s traditional snowbelt communities.
Snow squalls have meandered north and south over the past couple of days, bringing near-whiteout conditions from Orillia to Goderich and many communities in between. Squalls shifted south from Georgian Bay to Lake Huron on Friday.
We’ll see the focus of the squalls shift back to Georgian Bay for the day Saturday, placing the heaviest snowfall activity across areas already hard-hit earlier in the week, including Barrie, Orillia, and Collingwood. Expect travel impacts along Highways 400, 11, 21, and 26.
Snow squall watches and warnings are in effect, with locally heavy accumulations up to 60 cm possible by the time all is said and done.
“Visibility will be suddenly reduced to near zero at times in heavy snow and blowing snow. Rapidly accumulating snow will make travel difficult,” says ECCC. “Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.”
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Wind gusts will pick up for Saturday with gusts upwards to 60 km/h.
It’s possible for flurries to reach the GTA at times as the squalls meander about. But accumulations here will be minimal compared to the knee-deep totals expected beneath the heaviest squalls.
Conditions will be chilly however, with the wind chill making it feel closer to -10 in and around the GTA. For areas further north, wind chill values will reach a frigid -20.
The snow squalls are expected to finally come to an end on Sunday after bringing 30-60 cm of snow to the hardest hit areas.
The Colorado/Texas Low that we have been watching for Sunday night and Monday will track too far south to bring any significant snow to the region, but this storm will have a major impact on travel across the U.S. Midwest, the mid-South and the mid-Atlantic states.
Colder-than-normal temperatures are expected to dominate the first few weeks of the month, so it will certainly be feeling like winter once again.
Visuals of the significant snowfall event have been circulating on social media. Below is just a selection of what is making the rounds so far.