What to know
- Two snow clippers will impact southern Ontario, including the GTA, bringing 5-10 cm of snow, with higher totals (10–20 cm) possible farther from the lake shore.
- The first system arrives Tuesday afternoon with light snow, while the heaviest snowfall is expected overnight into Wednesday, affecting the morning commute.
- GTA may see a wintry mix or brief rain, potentially limiting snowfall totals in some areas.
- Commuters are advised to drive cautiously, as gusty winds, slick roads, and reduced visibility are expected.
Parts of southern Ontario, including the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), are bracing for significant snowfall on Wednesday as two separate Alberta clippers move in and are set to bring 5-10 cm of snow.
According to a report from The Weather Network, the clippers will move through the province from Tuesday into Wednesday, bringing up to 10 cm of snow in some areas, including the GTA.
Environment Canada has also issued a special weather statement due to the upcoming storm.
The first system will sweep through southern Ontario Tuesday afternoon and could bring “modest” amounts of snow, ranging from 3 to 5 cm.
However, the network warns that the most significant snowfall will occur overnight into Wednesday.
“It is going to make its way across southern Ontario and the GTA overnight, impacting the Wednesday morning commute. So, this system is going to be much different than the last few,” Rachel Modestino, meteorologist at The Weather Network, told Now Toronto.
Modestino says this system will also bring gustier winds and moisture from the Pacific, leading to a more widespread snow event.
“There are going to be some areas that see periods of mixing, a wintry mix, if not a changeover to rain, by late morning and the afternoon,” she said.
Modestino says there is a chance this mixing may occur in the GTA, which could limit snowfall totals.
Areas farther from the lake shore will likely not see a transition from snow to rain, which could lead to snowfall totals between 10 and 20 cm, according to Modestino. These areas include Sarnia, London, Kitchener, and regions along Highway 401 and up the 400-series highways.
Modestino adds that commuters should be cautious and plan for extra travel time on Wednesday.
“Take your time and drive slowly, especially because some of those common highway routes are going to be a little bit slower, a little bit slicker, and reduced visibility will also be a factor,” she said.
Looking at the long-range forecast, temperatures in the GTA are expected to remain below freezing for most of the month, which will help the snow stick around, according to Modestino.
She says there is also a chance the region could receive more snowfall over the weekend.
“We are watching a few different systems. They are rather weak in nature, and there’s lots of variability in their storm tracks,” she said. “But do expect some light snowfall on Saturday and Sunday for Toronto specifically.”
