TorontoForecast.com - Blog

WOCN11 CWTO 131856

Special weather statement

Issued by Environment Canada Ontario region.  1:56 PM EST Tuesday

13 January 2009.

Special weather statement issued for..

City of Toronto

Windsor - Essex - Chatham-Kent

Sarnia - Lambton

Elgin

London - Middlesex

Simcoe - Delhi - Norfolk

Dunnville - Caledonia - Haldimand

Oxford - Brant

Niagara

City of Hamilton

Halton - Peel

York - Durham

Huron - Perth

Waterloo - Wellington

Dufferin - Innisfil

Grey - Bruce

Barrie - Orillia - Midland

Belleville - Quinte - Northumberland

Kingston - Prince Edward

Peterborough - Kawartha Lakes

Stirling - Tweed - South Frontenac

Bancroft - Bon Echo Park

Brockville - Leeds and Grenville

City of Ottawa

Gatineau

Prescott and Russell

Cornwall - Morrisburg

Smiths Falls - Lanark - Sharbot Lake

Parry Sound - Muskoka

Haliburton

Renfrew - Pembroke - Barry’s Bay

Algonquin

Burk’s Falls - Bayfield Inlet.

..Snowy and cold winter weather on tap this week..

Winter is tightening its frigid icy grip on southern Ontario this 

week as what appears to be yet another series of snow producing 

disturbances in the form of Alberta clippers that will sail across 

the Great Lakes over the next few days.

The first Alberta clipper has arrived with its cloak of snow today 

and will give a general snowfall of 5 to 10 centimetres across 

southern and eastern Ontario by tonight.  While temperatures today 

may feel relatively on the mild side for a few hours as they inch up

To near the freezing mark..A sharp Arctic cold front will blast 

across eastern Ontario this afternoon.

This front may be heralded by a sudden short burst of heavy snow with 

strong northwesterly winds developing in its wake.  Low visibility 

from local blowing snow in exposed areas will be an issue to contend 

with after the front blasts through.

Temperatures will likely plunge some 5 degrees in the first couple of 

hours after the front passes this afternoon over southern Ontario 

with an even larger drop of up to 10 degrees in eastern Ontario 

including the national Capital region this evening.  This may cause 

roads and other surfaces to quickly become icy resulting in hazardous 

winter driving conditions as the mercury plunges.

Snowsqualls are also expected to develop in a few areas to the Lee of 

Lake Huron by this evening and snowsquall warnings have been issued 

as a result.

Temperatures will continue to fall dramatically this evening over all 

regions.  Overnight lows are expected to range from about minus 18 in 

the southwest to near minus 30 for parts of eastern Ontario.

Wind chills may approach warning levels for a little while tonight 

especially if winds take a little longer to diminish than currently 

expected.

After a brief respite Wednesday morning a second Alberta clipper in 

the series will track just south of the Great Lakes Wednesday night. 

This clipper will bring another area of snow into southern Ontario 

with a few more centimetres of the white stuff expected south of a 

line from Midland to Prince Edward county.  There is potential for 

snowsqualls to develop in the cold easterly flow off of Lake Ontario 

into a large part of the Golden Horseshoe Wednesday afternoon and 

Wednesday night with local snowfall amounts of 15 centimetres quite 

possible.

In the wake of this clipper even colder Arctic air will blast in by 

Thursday with temperatures remaining below minus 20 over eastern 

Ontario and struggling to get to the minus teens over the south.

Wind chills may be a significant issue on Thursday as the coldest air 

so far this season arrives.  Snowsqualls may once again redevelop by 

Friday in the snowbelt regions to the southeast of Lake Huron and 

Georgian Bay.

Finally yet another Alberta clipper may threaten southern and eastern

Ontario with more snow..Blowing snow..And strong winds by Saturday as 

the very active winter weather pattern continues.

Folks planning travel should be prepared for dangerous winter driving 

conditions especially in areas where various warnings may be in 

effect.  Travel plans may have to be adjusted accordingly.

Listen for further statements.  Additional information may also be 

found by consulting the latest public forecast.  The next public 

forecast will be issued by 3.30 PM.

END/OSPC