Fast Moving Clipper to Dump Up to 10-20cm of Snow on Parts of Ontario & Quebec This Weekend
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After a week dominated by seemingly endless snow squall activity across the snowbelt regions of Southern and Northern Ontario, the lake-effect snow machine is finally taking a break as we head into the first full weekend of December. However, this pause in squalls doesn’t mean the weather will be quiet for long!
We’re tracking a system originating from the Prairies that is expected to sweep across Ontario and Quebec between Saturday and Sunday. This fast-moving clipper will bring a widespread blast of snow, with accumulations ranging from 10 to 20 cm across Northern Ontario, Central and Eastern Ontario, and parts of Southern Quebec.
Precipitation associated with this system has already begun moving into Northwestern Ontario from Manitoba and will continue spreading eastward through the overnight hours. Areas near the international border, including Fort Frances, may also see a risk of freezing rain. Light to moderate snow will develop around Lake Superior and into Northeastern Ontario by Saturday morning.
As Saturday progresses, the system’s first snow bands will push southward into parts of Southwestern, Central, and Eastern Ontario by the afternoon. Initially, snowfall is expected to be light but could reach areas within the Golden Horseshoe. A sharp cut-off in precipitation means Deep Southwestern Ontario and regions along the Lake Erie shoreline are likely to see little to no accumulation.
By Saturday evening, the bulk of the precipitation will concentrate over Central and Eastern Ontario, where moderate to heavy snow will persist through the evening and into the early overnight hours.
Snowfall will taper off in Southwestern Ontario by the early evening and in the Greater Toronto Area by mid-evening. For the rest of Central and Eastern Ontario, snow will likely ease shortly after midnight, though areas closer to the Quebec border could see lingering snowfall into the pre-dawn hours.
During this time, temperatures in Southern Ontario will gradually rise, pushing many locations above the freezing mark and resulting in a mix of rain and snow. Central and Eastern Ontario, however, are expected to remain cold enough to keep precipitation as all snow.
For Quebec, snowfall is forecasted to begin mid to late Saturday afternoon, with Montreal likely seeing its first snow bands just after dinner. Snow will continue through the overnight hours and is not expected to clear out until late Sunday morning.
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In terms of accumulation, this system is relatively straightforward compared to scenarios involving mixing or lake enhancement. Across Northern Ontario, a general 10 to 15 cm is expected, including areas such as Armstrong, Marathon, Wawa, Timmins, Chapleau, and Kirkland Lake. Isolated locations could see totals closer to 15 to 20 cm.
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Farther south, snowfall totals of 10 to 20 cm are anticipated across much of Central and Eastern Ontario and Southwestern Ontario east of Lake Huron. This includes regions such as Grey-Bruce, Orillia, Muskoka, North Bay, Sudbury, Peterborough, Kingston, and the Ottawa Valley. Similar accumulations are expected in Southern Quebec, including Montreal, where snowfall amounts of 10 to 15 cm are likely, with localized pockets nearing 20 cm.
Meanwhile, lower amounts are expected in areas such as London, Kitchener-Waterloo, the Niagara Region, and the western GTA, where snowfall totals will likely remain around 5 cm or less. Toronto, in particular, may see minimal accumulation due to limited moisture reaching the area as the system concentrates on Central and Eastern Ontario. Deep Southwestern Ontario will likely see only trace amounts.
