Let it snow: More snowbelt squalls in Ontario will cause travel headaches
After the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and Ottawa region finally saw their first snowfall of the season on Wednesday, and will linger for some into Thursday morning, attention then will shift back to the snowbelt regions for yet another round of lake-effect snow squalls.
The first clipper of the season dropped a few centimetres of snow around the GTA on Wednesday, impacting travel, but now the snowbelts are back in the target zone for more snow come Thursday. 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.
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In addition to the travel risks and delays, it is possible for localized power outages due to the wet nature of the snow. Be sure to stay up to date on all of the weather warnings in your area, and have a plan in place as conditions deteriorate.
Below is a more detailed look at the forecast for Thursday.
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Thursday: Another round of snow squalls as the system departs
Northwesterly winds will set up 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 parts of the GTA at times.
The heaviest snow accumulations will be closer to Georgian Bay, though, with 10-20 cm expected, and some northern parts of the GTA could get 5-15 cm. A quick burst of a couple centimetres of snow is possible in northern Toronto.
The other 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. As snow squalls are very localized, it is tough to forecast if the heaviest snow will be in London or just outside to the west or northwest, but heavy accumulations of 20-40+ cm are expected.
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.
Luckily, the strongest winds will occur in the early part of the day where the snow squalls are not the strongest. Peak gusts of 50-70 km/h are expected Thursday morning, and will slowly decrease into the evening.
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While snow totals will not be nearly as impressive as what accumulated last weekend, travel conditions will still be dangerous due to the blowing snow and very poor visibility.
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Keep safety in mind
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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More snow ahead
As this current clipper departs, the coldest air of the season so far will spread across the region on Thursday night, Friday, and into Saturday.
A weak system will reinvigorate the bands of lake-effect snow Friday evening through Saturday morning with difficult travel on highways 11 and 400 north of Barrie, to near Parry Sound and south of Huntsville.
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 of snow. 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.
Stay with The Weather Network for more forecast information and updates on your weather across Ontario.
