Ontario Braces for Heavy Snow and Polar Vortex Cold This Week
Ontario is preparing for an intense winter weather event this week, featuring substantial snowfall and frigid temperatures. A Prairie clipper system is projected to bring significant snowfall from Wednesday into Thursday morning.
Forecasted Snowfall Across Ontario
Many regions, including the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ottawa, Windsor, and Niagara, can expect between 5 to 10 centimeters of snow. Areas near London and the snow belts are likely to receive even more, with totals ranging from 10 to over 15 centimeters.
- Greater Toronto Area (GTA): 5-10 cm
- Ottawa: 5-10 cm
- Windsor: 5-10 cm
- Niagara: 5-10 cm
- London and nearby snow belts: 10-15+ cm
Travelers should anticipate reduced visibility due to blowing snow and strong winds, with gusts reaching 50 to 60 km/h, particularly in areas downwind of the lakes.
Polar Vortex and Frigid Cold Temperatures
As the week progresses, Ontario will experience a dramatic drop in temperatures. A surge of Arctic air is expected to grip the Great Lakes Basin, bringing some of the coldest weather in years.
- Daytime highs on Saturday may struggle to exceed the minus teens.
- Ottawa could see temperatures plummet to -21°C, potentially marking a record for the coldest day in 10 years.
- Northern Ontario may experience even more severe conditions, with temperatures dipping close to -40°C in localized areas.
- Northeastern Ontario is forecasted to have widespread overnight lows nearing -30°C.
Residents are urged to prepare for this frigid cold snap and challenging winter conditions as Ontario braces for this significant weather change.
