From early sunsets to frigid weather, Toronto will be feeling like winter this week, with strong wind gusts and weekend temperatures below freezing.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for areas across the GTA on Wednesday, with wind gusts expected to reach up to 80 km/h this afternoon.
Currently, winds coming from the southwest are reaching 30 to 50 km/h, but with a cold front moving through the GTA between 2 and 3 p.m. this afternoon, winds are expected to shift from the northwest, bringing 70 km/h gusts that could reach up to 80 km/h.
Environment Canada tells Now Toronto that with wind gusts that strong, there is a risk that loose objects could be blown around injuring passersby, with people being advised to secure objects in their backyard or secure them down to avoid accidents.
“People [who] are walking in areas where there could be tree branches that could be weakened, and things of that nature, just to be more alert and aware of their surroundings,” Environment Canada said on Wednesday.
Gusty winds could also cause power outages, as power lines or trees could come down. Toronto Hydro tells Now Toronto it is currently monitoring the weather and preparing to respond to outages, but customers should be prepared, and visit its Outage Hub for support.
Windy conditions are expected to continue through late afternoon and evening hours, slowing down after midnight.
The cold front will also bring temperatures down in the city this weekend. While on Wednesday, temperatures will reach a maximum of 13ºC and minimum of 3ºC, they will fall by Thursday, with daytime temperatures at 8ºC and 3ºC at night.
The weekend could feel like winter in the city, as temperatures reach colder-than-normal highs at 6ºC, reaching below freezing temperatures at night, with a low of 2ºC on Saturday and -1ºC on Sunday. The cold front will extend to the first half of next week, as Toronto could see its first snow of the season on Monday.
Read More
Despite the light snow forecast, Toronto will not be looking like the holiday season just yet, with snow not sticking to the floor for long due to warm floor temperatures.
