Brace for impact: Ontario to see potent wind gusts, thunderstorms and even snow
Windy Wednesday ahead for Ontario with thunderstorm risk, wet snow, and a significant weekend cooldown
An active storm track will bring various weather conditions across Ontario this week, with multiple storm systems delivering wind, rain, and a potential wintry mix by the weekend.
Folks should prepare in advance for potential power outages and take some time to secure loose items, as wind gusts could reach to 80 km/h in some areas on Wednesday evening.
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Days of rain, wind, and even some November thunderstorms
The first system arrives Wednesday, bringing light shower activity along the leading warm front earlier in the day.
Locally heavier showers are expected downwind of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay late afternoon and evening, with thunderstorms and lightning strikes are possible near the aformentioned bodies of water through Wednesday evening and overnight.
As well, folks will see gusty, southwesterly winds of 60-80 km/h (then becoming northwesterly by late afternoon and evening), especially for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and from Niagara to Windsor, as well as along Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, and Lake Erie shorelines.
Lake-effect showers could develop overnight near Barrie, with brief, wet snowflakes possible in the Dundalk Highlands and snowbelt regions off Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.
Ottawa and other eastern Ontario areas will see rain Wednesday morning, becoming heavier by the afternoon, with a chance of wet snowflakes into the evening, though no accumulation is expected.
Widespread 10-20 mm of rainfall is forecast in lower elevations in eastern Ontario.
Accumulating snow is likely across the higher terrain in Algonquin Provincial Park
Closely watching for wintry weekend impacts
The second system, a fast-moving Prairie clipper, will impact the province on Friday.
A cold front will bring rainfall from west to east, affecting the GTA by Friday afternoon, also bringing another round of gusty, southwesterly winds.
Northeastern Ontario, in Timmins and Sudbury, could see some wet snowfall as temperatures dip.
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Heading into the weekend, a significant cooldown is anticipated as the chilly trough digs south, with highs sitting around 5-6°C on Saturday and Sunday.
We are monitoring a potential third system on Sunday that might bring wintry weather to pockets of southern Ontario, but its track remains uncertain at this time.
Signs of lake-effect snow ahead of a mid-November warm-up
Chilly weather is anticipated early next week, bringing the potential for significant lake-effect snow in traditional snowbelt regions. However, temperatures are forecast to rebound later in the week, with above-seasonal temperatures likely by mid-November and into the latter half of the month.
WATCH: Will intense lake-effect snow result from warmer Great Lakes?
Be sure to check back for the latest weather updates across Ontario.