Even more snow to hit Ontario this week, and polar vortex cold will follow
Rounds of snow will continue to cause travel troubles across Ontario this week, with some of the coldest air in years set to sink in by the weekend. Stay alert to the changing and deteriorating conditions
After Monday's snow brought additional school closures and bus cancellations, another round of widespread snowfall will hit southern Ontario on Wednesday.
Between 5-10 cm is likely, though enhanced snow bands east of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay may lead to higher accumulations. Lake-effect snow will linger across the snow belts right into the weekend.
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An extreme cold pattern will settle in by the end of the week, as well. Daytime highs from Friday through early next week are forecast to be in the minus teens, with overnight lows dipping into the minus 20s.
Wind chill values will be hazardous, with many areas experiencing conditions in the minus 30s, and some locations potentially reaching below minus 40. Residents should prepare for dangerous cold and monitor for weather advisories.
Blowing snow continues Tuesday, another mid-week storm
Lake-effect snow squalls will lift north of Barrie and Sault Ste. Marie on Tuesday. Hazardous travel and reduced visibility are likely along highways 69 and 17.
Daytime highs will drop further Tuesday, with southern Ontario expected to see minus double-digit temperatures.
A Prairie clipper will bring widespread snowfall Wednesday into Thursday morning, with 5-10 cm expected in regions including the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ottawa, Windsor, and Niagara.
Enhanced snow near London, the snow belts, and Lake Erie and Ontario shores could result in totals of 10-15+ cm.
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Blowing snow will reduce visibility once again, with wind gusts of 50-60 km/h, especially downwind of the lakes. Plan ahead for potentially challenging travel conditions.
Frigid air to grip Ontario by the weekend, coldest in years for some regions
This weekend, the Great Lakes Basin will experience a surge of frigid Arctic air. Daytime highs will struggle to rise above the minus teens on Saturday across much of Ontario, with temperatures expected to remain below seasonal averages into the end of January.
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Ottawa may hit a low of -21°C, marking the city’s coldest day in 10 years if this forecast holds.
Northern Ontario will face even harsher conditions, with localized areas potentially plunging to near -40°C during the cold snap. Northeastern Ontario is likely to see widespread overnight lows nearing -30°C.
Next week begins with frigid conditions across the region, though a gradual temperature recovery is expected. However, reinforcing shots of Arctic air will likely disrupt this warming trend. A couple of Prairie Clippers are also anticipated to bring snowfall through the week.
Temperatures may approach seasonal levels by early February, but colder-than-normal weather could return later in the month.