Southern Ontario to see more snow and a blast of arctic cold this weekend
Arctic air will trigger lake-effect snow squalls across southern Ontario this weekend and into next week, with wind chills plunging into the minus-20s in some cities.
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By Torontoer Staff
Southern Ontario will see additional rounds of snow beginning this weekend and continuing into next week, as Arctic air moves in and drives lake-effect snow squalls across parts of the province. The Weather Network says several systems will bring fresh accumulation to the Golden Horseshoe, the GTA and snowbelt areas around Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.
This follows a recent event that left 10 to more than 25 centimetres in parts of southern Ontario, including Prince Edward County. Forecasters warn the coming days will be a mix of light, intermittent snow in some places and heavier squalls where cold air moves over open water.
What to expect this weekend
Multiple rounds of snow are expected on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Totals will vary by location, with the highest amounts likely in traditional snowbelt zones downwind of the Great Lakes.
- Toronto: about 5 cm on Friday, roughly 1 cm on Saturday and Sunday, and 1 to 3 cm on Monday.
- GTA suburbs: similar to Toronto for many areas, with localized differences depending on squall tracks.
- Goderich and Lake Huron snowbelt: 5 to 10 cm on Friday, 5 cm on Saturday, 5 cm on Sunday, and another 5 to 10 cm on Monday.
- West of Toronto and around Georgian Bay: higher totals possible in the snowbelt, with bands of heavier snow shifting with the wind.
Lake-effect snow squalls will be the main driver of localized heavy snowfall. These bands can drop significant snow over short distances, producing sharp contrasts between neighbouring communities.
The cold arrives next week
A surge of Arctic air will push into southern Ontario next week, bringing much colder temperatures and continued lake-effect activity east and southeast of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Forecasters say the cold should persist through much of the week.
A surge of Arctic air is going to keep temperatures cold for much of the week.
The Weather Network
On Tuesday, January 20, expected readings include Toronto at -14 C, with a wind chill near -24 C. Other forecasts for the same day show London at -16 C, feeling like -26 C; Windsor at -14 C, feeling like -24 C; Kingston at -16 C, feeling like -24 C; Ottawa at -20 C, feeling like -25 C; and Parry Sound near -17 C with a wind chill around -20 C.
What the rest of January looks like
The Weather Network says a winter pattern is expected to continue through the end of January, with the potential for notable winter storms originating from systems over Colorado, Texas and the Gulf of Mexico as they move across eastern North America.
A winter weather pattern is expected to continue through the end of January, with potential for notable winter storms.
The Weather Network
Those systems could bring larger, more widespread snowfall depending on their tracks, and they will interact with the Canadian air mass to determine whether a storm produces lake-effect squalls, widespread snow or a mix.
Practical tips for the coming week
- Monitor forecasts and travel advisories before heading out, especially if you live or travel through snowbelt zones.
- Allow extra time for commutes and expect sudden visibility reductions in squalls.
- Prepare winter supplies in vehicles including an ice scraper, blanket and a charged phone.
- Protect exposed plumbing and outdoor taps if temperatures dip to prolonged subzero levels.
Check local municipal updates for plowing and road condition information, and plan for colder-than-normal conditions next week that will influence both daily routines and travel.
Forecasters will refine timing and amounts as the systems approach. Expect pockets of heavier snow in lake-effect bands and widespread cold that will make wind chills a significant factor across southern Ontario.
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