Toronto, make sure to bundle up and wear extra layers as temperatures are expected to feel in the -20’s today and tomorrow.
Environment Canada says the majority of the province is under extreme cold weather alerts, with lake effect snow coming in east of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay through Wednesday.
⚠️ Significant Weather Outlook for Tuesday. ⚠️
— ECCC Weather Ontario (@ECCCWeatherON) January 20, 2025
🥶 Extreme cold over much of the province.
❄️ Lake effect snow east of Lake Huron & Georgian Bay and northeast of both Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.#ONstorm #ONwx pic.twitter.com/vGUZsZfCrc
Environment Canada Warning Preparedness Meteorologist Peter Kimbell explains which areas will be hit the hardest by the cold snap.
“We have extreme cold weather alerts in effect for most of Northern Ontario, basically everywhere north and including the Muskoka region. So, Muskoka, all the way to Algonquin Park, Renfrew, Pembroke,” he said.
“If you draw a line from Muskoka east to Renfrew, everywhere north of that basically is under an extreme cold warning right now, so very cold temperatures across southern Ontario, you should understand that the the threshold for an extreme cold warning varies across the province, depending on where you are, and the reason is climatology,” he continued.
Kimbell adds that residents can expect it to feel like -30 C in areas such as Muskoka, and upwards of -40 C in Northern Ontario. Further north, it can also reach frigid temperatures of -45 C.
He says the cold temperatures should moderate by Tuesday for most parts of the province and some warnings are expected to be lifted as well.
In Toronto, people can expect a mix of sun and cloud with a 30 per cent chance of flurries early Monday morning, coupled with a high of -10 C, feeling like -23 with the wind chill.
“The high today is expected to be -10 C and the normal high this time of year, the average high this time of year, is -2. So, we’re well below normal, and we’ll be getting wind chills of -20 C this evening and -26 C overnight,” Kimbell said, when it comes to temperatures in the Greater Toronto Area.
Though the city is not under an extreme cold warning, Kimbell emphasizes that it is still extremely cold and people should bundle up and aim to stay indoors as much as possible.
“Extreme cold puts everyone at risk. Watch for cold-related symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes,” the weather advisory read.
Environment Canada advises everyone to cover up in order to risk frostbite on exposed skin and check on vulnerable people such as older family members, friends and neighbours. In addition, pets should also not be outside during this time.
FORECAST FOR THE WEEK
On Tuesday, the forecast includes a mix of sun and cloud with a 40 per cent chance of flurries. The high is expected to be -12 C, but will feel like -26 with the wind chill.
A mix of sun and cloudy conditions will continue into Wednesday, with a high of -9 C.
The cold temperatures will begin to taper off on Thursday with a 30 per cent chance of flurries and a high of -4 C.
On Friday, the same conditions are expected to follow with a 30 per cent chance of flurries and high of -4 C.
Saturday is set to be cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of flurries and a high of -1 C. And on Sunday, cloudy conditions are expected with a high of -2 C.
