Prepare for a sharp temperature plunge in Ontario this weekend
Get ready for temperatures as low as the -20s with even colder wind chill values as an Arctic front slices across Ontario this weekend
A lobe of the polar vortex will swing through Ontario this weekend, dragging a spell of bitterly cold air across the region.
Toronto could see its coldest March temperature in more than a decade after the Arctic front pushes through.
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Unseasonably cold temperatures arrive this weekend
Saturday will be one of those days when the high temperature occurs in the morning.
Temperatures will rapidly drop through the day as an Arctic cold front moves through the region, allowing bitterly cold northwesterly winds to dominate conditions.
We’ll see readings fall well below the freezing mark by Saturday evening, with temperatures falling even colder into Sunday.
Toronto will see temperatures drop from -6°C on Saturday evening to -18°C by Sunday evening, making for the coldest March temperature here since 2015. Wind chill values will dip as low as -25.
Ottawa and Montreal could reach -20°C overnight Sunday with wind chill values of -25 to -30.
Weekend activities, including skiing, will require extra layers and face coverings to protect from the very cold temperatures.
Snow arrives behind the Arctic front
A round of snow will sweep across southern Ontario beginning Saturday evening and into the overnight hours.
Most regions, including the Greater Toronto Area, will see less than 5 cm of snow. However, there is a possibility that a few localized areas could overachieve and see a few extra centimetres of snowfall.
Temperatures recover next week, with a catch
Cold conditions will remain in place heading into the day Monday before we start to see temperatures rebound across the region.
Milder temperatures will attempt to nudge north into the middle of next week. A low-pressure system will likely accompany the warmth as an active storm track builds over southern Ontario.
A Colorado low looks to move through the region Tuesday into Wednesday, bringing the opportunity for multiple types of precipitation.
Several factors will dictate what type of precipitation falls in each community, including the storm’s precise track and how warm temperatures are able to get. Forecasters will closely monitor this potential as the event draws closer.
Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across Ontario.