Ontario welcomes back frigid air and bouts of snow as winter resumes
Following a temporary January thaw, temperatures are set to plunge as blasts of Arctic air and more snow moves into the Great Lakes region throughout the week
This week will continue to feature a transition back to a much colder and more wintry pattern in Canada for the final two weeks of January.
For southern Ontario, that means multiple shots of Arctic air and rounds of snowfall, with 5-15 cm for most through Thursday with the current system. Wednesday commutes will likely be impacted, so brace for slower travel times amid reduced visibility and slippery road conditions.
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Frigid Arctic air will take hold next week, bringing lake-effect snowsqualls to snowbelt regions east and southeast of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Winter weather conditions are anticipated to persist through the end of the month.
Brace for travel impacts with rounds of snow, and lake-effect squalls
Widespread snow is expected to continue across southern Ontario through Wednesday, moving into eastern Ontario in the overnight hours and Thursday morning.
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Drivers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) should prepare for impacted commutes on Wednesday morning and evening due to snow and a wintry mix. However, snowfall in the GTA is not expected to exceed 5 cm.
Blustery winds will accompany the system, so blowing and drifting snow may reduce visibility on some roads at times.
Current projections suggest snowfall totals could range from 5-15 cm, with Ottawa sitting in the 10-15 cm range and the GTA in the 3-5 cm range.
By Thursday, cold, northwesterly winds are expected to trigger lake-effect snow, persisting through the end of the work week.
Feeling like -20 as frigid wind chill returns late week
From cold to colder to coldest, Arctic air will continually descend over Ontario this week and beyond.
Temperatures across northern Ontario are set to drop by 10-15°C from Tuesday into Wednesday. By Wednesday night into Thursday, the cold air will move into southern Ontario, bringing daytime highs in the negative double digits, with wind chills making it feel closer to the -20s.
While temperatures may slightly recover for some areas at the start of the weekend, another surge of Arctic air will move in, keeping the region in frigid conditions well into next week.
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Be sure to check back for the latest weather updates across Ontario.