Snow Squalls Sweep over Southern Ontario


After a relatively warm week, some areas of southern Ontario will see severe weather today, with up to 40 centimetres of snow possible in areas near London. Environment Canada issued snow squall warnings for Barrie, Parry Sound, Muskoka, and the Bruce Peninsula. The forecast for those areas calls for snow squalls, with heavy blowing snow, in accumulations of up to 15 centimetres. Environment Canada says drivers should leave extra time for trips, and expect reduced visibility in those areas. CBC meteorologist, Johanna Wagstaffe, said a snow squall watch is also in effect for the London and Woodstock area, and into Sarnia. Snow squalls are created when cold, Arctic air sweeps over unseasonably warm Great Lakes waters. In the afternoon, winds will swing south. "This morning, the Orilla-Barrie area will see zero visibility, and 15 centimetres (6 inches) of snow; 

This afternoon those snow squalls will sink down to London and sit there for the next couple of days," she said. “Parts of London and Stratford County could see 40 centimetres by the end of Tuesday." “We could even see a few flurries in Toronto, as they reach down through Lake Ontario.” “By Tuesday afternoon, 40 centimetres is not out of the question, if you get stuck in one of these snow squall bands.” Toronto will likely escape with only a light dusting of snow, but the forecast is calling for temperatures to fall to -4 C by this afternoon. "It will feel like a shock for Toronto," said Wagstaffe. "We had +7 C on Sunday, it's going to -1 C this morning, dropping to -4 C this afternoon. "We're missing the worst of the Ontario weather." The temperature will continue to drop overnight and into Tuesday, when a high of -11 C is forecast for Toronto.