Mild start to Easter weekend in Ontario, but with storm risk and wintry end
Outdoor plans may require adjustments this Easter long weekend in Ontario
Two Colorado lows will track across Ontario through the Easter weekend, delivering rain, thunderstorms, and a short-lived return of 20°C temperatures.
Weather Highlights:
Showers begin Thursday in southwestern Ontario, spreading eastward, with intermittent rain and a chance of overnight thunderstorms
Good Friday will see 20°C highs from Windsor to Ottawa as rain tapers off by the afternoon
More rain arrives Saturday, with a cold front possibly triggering thunderstorms
DON'T MISS: Will Canada's April bring a summer preview or a winter rewind?
Consecutive Colorado lows bring unsettled weather and shifting temperatures for Easter
A warm front moving northward will bring showers to southern Ontario on Thursday. Showers will begin in the southwest, near Lake Huron, spreading to Niagara, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and south-central Ontario by afternoon, and reaching eastern Ontario in the evening. Rainfall will include breaks throughout the day.
RELATED: How Colorado lows and Texas lows affect our weather in Canada
By late evening, there is a chance of thunderstorms developing across southwestern Ontario, continuing into the overnight hours. Atmospheric conditions are likely to limit both the number and intensity of thunderstorms.
Temperatures will rise steadily through Thursday evening, continuing into early Friday morning as warm air moves into the region.
Good Friday will start mild, with temperatures reaching the 20s from Windsor to Ottawa, marking Ottawa’s first 20°C day of the year.
Eastern Ontario can expect morning rain and a few thunderstorms, but most of the day will remain rain-free aside from isolated showers.
Mild conditions will persist in southwestern Ontario into Saturday morning and afternoon before a second Colorado low arrives.
Rainfall will spread across the region Saturday morning, and the storm’s cold front may trigger additional thunderstorms in the afternoon.
DON'T MISS: Gas prices: How to save money at the pumps in every season
By Sunday, the cold front will usher in single-digit temperatures, with a wintry mix of precipitation spreading across Ontario.
Be sure to check back for updates as we fine-tune this forecast.