DON’T MISS: Why snowfall is one of the hardest events to predict
Sunday: The cold comes in and brings snow with it
Sunday is shaping up to be the region’s most significant avalanche event of the season to date. There are blizzard warnings and weather warnings. As the morning progresses, the lake-effect snow machine will kick in thanks to steady, northwesterly winds over relatively warm lake waters. Temperatures fell steadily through Sunday morning, allowing most areas to see a transition from showers to thunderstorms. Sunday morning, lake effect zones will become more pronounced over Lake Huron and Georgian Bay as winds align, allowing for steady snowfall for communities southeast of the lake shores. The heaviest snow in these areas is expected to fall around midday, with rates of 2-4 cm per hour expected, so near-zero visibility is expected. The hardest hit areas could see locally 15-30cm of snow. Conditions will change quickly over short distances under the snow, possibly catching drivers by surprise when visibility drops to near zero in places. “Rainfall causes significant variations in weather conditions. Changes from clear skies to heavy snow within just a few kilometers are common. Visibility can drop suddenly at times in heavy snowfall. Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations .If visibility is reduced while driving, turn on your lights and maintain a safe following distance,” says Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in its blizzard warning. It never hurts to take it slow and consider changing non-essential plans in areas that expect heavy snow. Snow will reduce visibility even in areas where no snow is falling at the time. Some of the rocks could become strong enough to see disturbances push into parts of the Greater Toronto Area and the 400 freeways. While no accumulations are expected here because the ground is still warm, it will be a reminder that winter is indeed on his way. Thunderstorms and snow showers will persist into Sunday overnight before fading during the day on Monday.
Toronto is on top of its latest freezing temperature on record
It’s not every year that Oklahoma City and Greensboro, North Carolina hit freezing before Toronto, but this year’s crazy pattern across North America allowed each of those cities to drop below freezing before Canada’s largest city. Toronto’s historic streak of sub-freezing temperatures will soon end as the pattern changes to allow snow in southern Ontario. The previous record for the last 0°C reading in Toronto was set on November 8, 2004. It looks like we’re on track to finally hit zero on Monday morning, breaking the old record by nearly a week.
The cold continues, more snow for this week
Widespread colder than seasonal conditions are expected to prevail this week and beyond, with another strengthening of arctic air and temperatures more typical of early December at times. This will bring additional lake effect snow to the traditional snow belt areas east and southeast of the Great Lakes starting Wednesday, with more precipitation continuing into next weekend. Local snow totals will be rather impressive. DON’T MISS: Freezing weather is inevitable. Here’s what you need to prepare We’ll see the potential for the first extensive snow cover of the season Tuesday night and Wednesday for eastern Ontario, and possibly parts of the south. Typical of mid-November events, temperatures will be marginal with accumulations heavily influenced by elevation and distance from the Great Lakes. Be sure to check back for the latest weather updates across Ontario.
