Blowing Snow Could Be a Concern Overnight and Into Tuesday Morning as Strong Winds Move Through the Maritimes

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Model Image showing the location of snow at 3AM Tuesday, January 28th, 2025

We are continuing to track the intense squall line that is making its way across parts of Ontario and Quebec. Luckily, the strongest winds and blasts of heavy snow will pass through New England, but the Maritimes won’t be completely spared.

We’re already beginning to see the winds ramp up in New Brunswick and PEI, ahead of the squall line. Wind gusts are expected in the 60-80km/h range across the two provinces for the remainder of the evening and into the early morning. The strong winds will make their way into the Western half of Nova Scotia at around 9pm and will spread across the province overnight and continue through the morning.

These strong winds are expected to whip up the snow that is already on the ground, leading to localized white-out conditions and drifting snow. This will make travel in some areas difficult so make sure to take extra caution out on the roads during these conditions.

The snow associated with the squall line will follow the strong winds, moving into Northern New Brunswick after midnight. It will spread southeastward across the region throughout the morning, reaching Prince County, PEI just after sunrise and the Annapolis Valley and Cumberland County, Nova Scotia shortly after. This snowfall will be moderate and only last for a couple of hours, leading to isolated pockets of 5-10cm across the region, but it won’t be too impactful.

Damaging Wind Storm Sweeps Into Ontario With Gusts Over 90 km/h and Blizzard Conditions on Monday

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The final week of January is shaping up to start with turbulent weather across Southern Ontario, as a damaging windstorm is set to impact the region on Monday.

Wind gusts are forecasted to reach 80 to 90 km/h across much of Southern Ontario during the day on Monday, with some localized pockets potentially seeing gusts exceeding 100 km/h.

Power outages are a significant concern for the hardest-hit regions, along with other types of wind-related damage, such as fallen tree branches and unsecured objects being blown around. In addition, the strong winds may create another hazard along the Great Lakes shoreline, where ice could be pushed ashore, causing damage to property along the lakes.

Adding to the danger, a sharp cold front is expected to sweep through Ontario over the next 24 hours, bringing a blast of wintry weather, including an intense frontal snow squall. Combined with the strong winds, some areas could experience blizzard-like conditions starting late Monday afternoon and lasting into the evening.

While this event isn’t expected to bring significant snowfall totals to Southern Ontario, accumulations could range from 5 to 15 cm, depending on the location.

However, areas east of Lake Superior in Northern Ontario may see higher amounts, with localized totals reaching 20 to 30 cm, while a broader area of Northeastern Ontario is expected to receive 10 to 20 cm.

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The windstorm is expected to begin early Monday morning across Southern Ontario, with wind speeds gradually increasing through mid-morning.

Southwestern Ontario, particularly areas along the Lake Huron shoreline, will experience the strongest winds first, around sunrise. These conditions will then spread east and north by early afternoon.

The strongest winds are anticipated during the early to mid-afternoon hours, with widespread gusts ranging from 70 to 90 km/h across the region.

Areas such as the Dundalk Highlands, Niagara region, Northern Lake Erie shoreline, and Prince Edward County could see slightly higher wind gusts due to their exposure to the lakes and elevated terrain. Gusts in these areas may exceed 100 km/h, possibly reaching 105 to 110 km/h near Collingwood along the Georgian Bay shoreline.

Other locations, including Goderich, Kincardine, Owen Sound, Wiarton, Tobermory, Guelph, Kitchener, Hamilton, Brantford, Britt, Parry Sound, Belleville, Kingston, and Brockville, could experience wind gusts between 90 and 100 km/h. This range represents the greatest potential for wind damage, including localized power outages.

The remainder of Southern Ontario—excluding Deep Southwestern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley—can expect gusts between 80 and 90 km/h, with occasional stronger gusts. Deep Southwestern Ontario and the Ottawa Valley are likely to see slightly weaker winds, with maximum gusts of 70 to 80 km/h.

For those with properties along the Great Lakes, particularly Lake Erie, the risk of ‘ice shoves’—where winds push broken ice onto shore—is a concern. This phenomenon can cause significant damage and flooding along the shoreline. Residents in affected areas should prepare for this potential over the next 24 hours.

PRECIPITATION TYPE - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

Wind speeds are expected to diminish somewhat later in the afternoon and into Monday evening, though they will remain strong, ranging from 60 to 90 km/h. This coincides with the arrival of a pocket of moderate to heavy snow in Central Ontario during the late afternoon.

The snowfall is expected to begin affecting the Parry Sound and Muskoka regions between 2:00 and 4:00 PM, leading to blowing snow and possible blizzard conditions lasting several hours into the evening.

Travel during this time will likely be hazardous, with significantly reduced visibility and potentially closed roads. While snowfall rates won’t be overwhelming, at a few centimetres per hour, the strong winds will make conditions dangerous.

Travel should be avoided unless absolutely necessary. Fortunately, conditions are expected to improve within a few hours.

PRECIPITATION TYPE - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

By dinnertime, widespread snowfall is likely across most of Central Ontario, portions of Eastern Ontario, and areas east of the Lake Huron shoreline.

The worst conditions are expected early in the event, as the snow begins and winds are strongest, with gradual improvement into the later evening hours.

The greatest risk of blizzard conditions will be across Grey-Bruce, the Georgian Bay shoreline, Muskoka, and Parry Sound, where the heaviest snow and strongest winds are forecasted to overlap.

PRECIPITATION TYPE - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

An intense, narrow band of snow is also expected to develop along the cold front as it moves through Southern Ontario in the evening.

This frontal snow squall could bring a sudden burst of heavy snow almost everywhere in Southern Ontario, lasting less than an hour.

The squall is expected to reach Central and Eastern Ontario by mid to late evening, while the Greater Toronto Area and Niagara region may not experience it until closer to midnight.

This squall is not expected to produce significant snowfall totals, as it will pass through quickly. However, it could bring 2 to 5 cm of snow within 15 to 30 minutes, along with brief but intense blowing snow.

Although conditions may feel like a blizzard during this time, they likely won’t meet the official criteria, which require blizzard conditions to last at least four hours. That criteria is more likely to be met around the Lake Huron and Georgian Bay shoreline as the snow starts earlier in the day.

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By the end of Monday, the highest snowfall totals are expected in the higher elevations of Central Ontario, including Huntsville, Sundridge, Algonquin Park, and North Bay, where accumulations of 10 to 20 cm are likely, though closer to the lower end of that range.

For the rest of Central Ontario and areas east of Lake Huron, including Hanover, Orangeville, and Collingwood, this event is expected to bring 5 to 10 cm of fresh snowfall.

Eastern Ontario and the Lake Huron shoreline should see 2 to 5 cm, primarily from the passing snow squall.

The Golden Horseshoe and Deep Southwestern Ontario are likely to receive less than 2 cm of snow.

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In Northern Ontario, snow will begin late Sunday night and continue through much of Monday.

The heaviest accumulations will occur east of Lake Superior, where lake enhancement and embedded snow squalls could push totals to 20 to 30 cm in areas like Wawa and Sault Ste. Marie.

Blizzard conditions are possible during the morning and afternoon in these regions, with wind gusts reaching 70 to 90 km/h near the shoreline.

The rest of Northeastern Ontario, stretching from North Bay to Cochrane along the Quebec border, is expected to receive 10 to 20 cm of snow by the end of Monday.

Sudbury, which may find itself in a dry pocket, is forecasted to see 5 to 10 cm, closer to the lower end of that range, while Elliot Lake should receive less than 5 cm.

Snow Squalls Return to Southern Ontario This Weekend With Up to 20cm of Snow; Potential Wind Storm on Monday

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Southern Ontario has been gradually climbing out of the deep freeze earlier this week, which brought wind chills plunging into the -30s. This temporary reprieve has also slowed down the lake-effect snow machine.

However, a fresh surge of cold air over the next 24 hours will reignite the potential for snow squalls, particularly around Georgian Bay.

The good news is that this round of snow squall activity should be relatively short-lived. The squalls are expected to drift rather than anchor in one spot, which will help limit overall snowfall accumulation.

By the end of Sunday, areas along the eastern Georgian Bay shoreline and the Bruce Peninsula are forecast to receive between 10 and 20 cm of snow.

Despite the shorter duration, these squalls could still create hazardous conditions. Wind gusts will likely lead to blowing snow, further reducing visibility on roads and making travel potentially dangerous.

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Looking ahead, once the snow squalls subside late Sunday, attention shifts to a potentially significant windstorm developing across Southern Ontario starting Monday morning and lasting through the day.

Based on the latest data, wind gusts could approach or even exceed 100 km/h in some regions.

This powerful wind event will coincide with the arrival of a weather system bringing widespread snowfall to Southern Ontario beginning Monday afternoon.

While snowfall totals from the system are expected to range between 5 and 15 cm, the combination of strong wind gusts and falling snow could lead to blowing snow and, in some areas, blizzard conditions.

Driving conditions during Monday’s evening commute are expected to be very poor, with a high risk of power outages in areas that experience the strongest wind gusts.

Be prepared for possible heating disruptions if outages occur, as temperatures are forecast to drop sharply Monday night.

HOURLY SNOWFALL RATE/intensity - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

The cold front responsible for these changing conditions will sweep through Southern Ontario on Saturday evening. While surface temperatures will remain relatively stable, colder air aloft will fuel the lake-effect snow machine.

As a result, heavier snow pockets may develop east of Georgian Bay, particularly in the Parry Sound and northern Muskoka regions, aided by lake enhancement.

Snow squalls could also form within this setup, bringing locally higher snowfall amounts. Current projections suggest 5 to 15 cm of accumulation by Wednesday morning, but totals could reach up to 20 or even 25 cm if conditions align perfectly.

HOURLY SNOWFALL RATE/intensity - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

High-resolution models show a significant snow squall developing over the southern Bruce Peninsula on Sunday morning.

This squall may extend across Georgian Bay, reaching Simcoe County and parts of Kawartha Lakes. It appears likely to linger for several hours between Orillia and Barrie, producing intense snowfall with rates approaching 5 cm per hour.

As the squall moves into Simcoe County during the afternoon, it is expected to weaken, leading to reduced snowfall rates. Additionally, weaker bands of lake-effect snow could develop off Lake Huron, potentially affecting areas like Kincardine, Hanover, and even parts of the Greater Toronto Area.

However, these bands are less certain and may only persist for a few hours on Sunday morning.

HOURLY SNOWFALL RATE/intensity - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

By Sunday evening, snow squall activity will likely shift northward into Muskoka and Parry Sound, intensifying briefly and delivering heavy snow to areas like Port Carling and Bracebridge.

Organized lake-effect snow activity should taper off by midnight, although minor flurries may linger into early Monday morning.

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Because the squalls are expected to move frequently, snowfall will be spread across a wider area rather than concentrating in one location.

Most regions along the eastern Georgian Bay shoreline, including Barrie, Muskoka, and Parry Sound, are forecast to receive between 10 and 20 cm of snow by Sunday evening. This also applies to the Bruce Peninsula and areas like Owen Sound and Meaford.

Localized amounts exceeding 20 cm are possible, particularly in the corridor between Orillia and Barrie, where intense snow squalls are expected on Sunday morning. However, the current data does not support widespread totals in the 20-30 cm range.

Outside the primary snowbelt areas, regions such as Haliburton, Lindsay, Keswick, and Flesherton are likely to see 5 to 10 cm of snow, depending on the placement of snow squalls and how far inland they extend.

For the rest of Southern Ontario, snowfall amounts will generally be less than 5 cm, with most of the snow falling on Saturday evening and overnight.

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The windstorm on Monday is expected to bring the strongest gusts to higher elevations, including the Dundalk Highlands, Collingwood, and Orangeville.

Wind gusts in these areas could reach 100 to 110 km/h, with similar strength expected along the escarpment, down into Hamilton, and across the Niagara region along the Lake Erie shoreline.

In Southwestern Ontario, gusts could exceed 90 km/h in areas east of Lake Huron, extending into Kitchener and the western Greater Toronto Area.

Elsewhere across Southern Ontario, gusts will likely range from 80 to 90 km/h, while Central and Eastern Ontario could see slightly weaker gusts of 70 to 80 km/h.

PRECIPITATION TYPE - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

The addition of widespread snowfall on Monday afternoon and evening will exacerbate the impact of the wind. Blowing snow could create whiteout conditions, and some areas may experience blizzard-like conditions, especially in Southwestern Ontario.

While snowfall totals from this system aren’t expected to be excessive, with 5 to 15 cm possible across Southwestern and Central Ontario, the combination of snow and strong winds will make travel extremely challenging.

Further details on timing and accumulation specifics will be shared in a forecast update on Sunday. Stay tuned!

Season’s First Snowfall Possible for Wide Swath of Southern Ontario Starting Late Wednesday

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Over the past week, calm conditions have dominated the weather story across Southern Ontario. This pattern has also brought a return to more seasonal temperatures typical for this time of year, a noticeable shift from the unseasonably warm weather that lingered into early November.

One notable absence so far this season is snow—a staple of November in Southern Ontario. While some regions, especially higher elevations in Central Ontario, the Ottawa Valley, and the Dundalk Highlands, experienced their first flurries as early as September and October, much of Southern Ontario has yet to see its first snowfall.

That, however, could soon change with the arrival of multiple weather systems in the coming days, bringing colder air and the potential for wet flurries as early as Wednesday evening and into Thursday and Friday.

The good news for those not yet ready to embrace winter is that significant accumulation isn’t expected with this initial blast of wintry weather. Temperatures are forecast to hover just above freezing, which will likely limit accumulation as any snow melts upon contact with the wet and relatively warm ground left behind by earlier rainfall.

In addition to the season’s first flurries, a slow-moving system will stall over the Great Lakes region, pulling in moisture from another system over New England. This setup will lead to ample precipitation, with heavy rain expected to persist into the start of the weekend. Eastern Ontario is poised to bear the brunt of this rainfall, with totals ranging from 25 to 50 mm between Wednesday and Saturday.

SIMULATED RADAR - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

The rain is expected to begin on Wednesday afternoon, with the initial band of heavy rain arriving in Deep Southwestern Ontario and areas near the Lake Erie shoreline by dinnertime.

This line of precipitation may also bring embedded, non-severe thunderstorms and wind gusts of 70-80 km/h. While most gusts are expected to remain below the severe threshold, isolated gusts near 90 km/h are possible, particularly over the Niagara region during the early evening hours.

PRECIPITATION TYPE - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

As this line of rain races across Southwestern Ontario and into the Golden Horseshoe, colder air will begin rushing in from the west. However, there is some disagreement among models regarding how quickly temperatures will drop and how rapidly the precipitation will move. Some projections suggest a sharp cooldown, with temperatures in Southwestern Ontario nearing freezing by Wednesday evening.

If this happens, rain could transition to wet snow in areas such as Sarnia, London, Goderich, Kitchener, Guelph, and Orangeville. However, with earlier rainfall and temperatures still above freezing, any snow is likely to melt on contact. Elevated areas northwest of the GTA, particularly the Dundalk Highlands, may see light accumulation of up to 2-4 cm overnight into Thursday morning.

PRECIPITATION TYPE - MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

By Thursday morning, most of the moisture will shift into Central and Eastern Ontario, with the centre of the low-pressure system stalled over Lake Huron. Meanwhile, a secondary system over New England will provide additional moisture, enhancing precipitation over Eastern Ontario throughout the day.

Temperatures in parts of Eastern Ontario, particularly southwest of Ottawa and in higher elevations, will hover near the freezing mark, creating a chance for wet flurries. Closer to the international border extending into the Ottawa region, heavy rain will likely continue.

Precipitation is expected to persist overnight Thursday and linger into Friday, with the heaviest rain focused on Eastern Ontario. In Central and Southwestern Ontario, lingering showers are possible Friday morning and afternoon, though they won’t be as intense as in the east.

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For rainfall totals, Eastern Ontario, including Kingston and Ottawa, can expect 25 to 50 mm by Saturday. The rest of Southern Ontario will likely see 10 to 25 mm, though isolated pockets could receive closer to 30-40 mm during thunderstorm activity.

Higher elevations in Eastern Ontario, particularly near Bancroft, may see persistent snow showers that could result in minor accumulation of up to 2-5 cm by Friday morning. However, with temperatures so close to freezing, it’s uncertain how much snow will stick.

Looking ahead to the weekend, there’s good news for those not ready for snow. Earlier model predictions suggested a significant cooldown that could trigger lake-effect snow. However, the latest data indicates the cooldown won’t be as intense as initially thought.

While some lake-effect showers are still possible along the Lake Huron shoreline and southeast of Georgian Bay on Saturday, it likely won’t be cold enough for those showers to fall as snow.

Temperatures to Soar Above 20°C Across Southern Ontario on Tuesday With Gusty Winds

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As we step into the first days of November, the temperatures outside might have you double-checking the calendar, as the unusually warm trend of this fall continues. This lingering seasonal tug-of-war between cold and warm air has led to temperature swings from near-freezing to over 20°C in the past few weeks.

Despite the calendar saying November, it’ll feel more like early fall on Tuesday as temperatures rise to around 20°C across much of Southern Ontario. Accompanying this brief warm-up will be strong wind gusts, reaching 70-80 km/h in some areas.

A warm front moving across Southern Ontario is bringing in this surge of mild air, making its presence felt overnight into Tuesday. Already, spots around Lake Erie in southwestern Ontario are feeling this effect, with temperatures climbing near the 20°C mark by Monday evening.

In contrast, parts of Central Ontario and the Ottawa Valley have remained in the single digits, with areas near Ottawa hovering close to freezing. But don’t worry; that’s about to change as warmer air spreads in!

Overnight, temperatures will gradually rise, with most of Southern Ontario waking up to mild conditions in the mid to upper teens. In Central and Eastern Ontario, expect to start the day with temperatures in the lower teens.

Throughout Tuesday, the warm-up will continue, with daytime highs near 20°C or slightly higher in some areas. The latest data suggests the warmest air will be centred along the Golden Horseshoe and deep southwestern Ontario, including cities like Windsor and Chatham, where temperatures could reach 21-24°C. Some locations may even approach record highs, though with records around 23-25°C in many spots, breaking them might be a tall order.

The rest of Southern Ontario, except for the Bruce Peninsula and northern parts of Central Ontario, will enjoy temperatures around 18-21°C. Northern regions, including Tobermory, Parry Sound, Huntsville, and Algonquin Park, will see slightly cooler temperatures around 15-18°C. Meanwhile, Northeastern Ontario will experience mild conditions, with highs in the low to mid-teens.

TEMPERATURES 10-14°C ABOVE SEASONAL- MAP FROM WEATHERBELL

If 20°C temperatures in November seem strange, you're right! Daytime highs for this time of year are typically in the upper single digits or low teens, so we’re looking at temperatures around 10-14°C above average across Southern Ontario on Tuesday.

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Winds will also be a key feature on Tuesday, with gusts approaching 70 km/h across much of Southern Ontario by the morning. These winds should weaken somewhat later in the day but are expected to pick up again overnight into early Wednesday.

A few areas—particularly around Lake Erie, Niagara, higher elevations east of Lake Huron, and northeast of Georgian Bay—could see stronger gusts up to 80 km/h, although this will be highly localized. Most places should expect gusts around 70 km/h, with winds easing off by late Wednesday morning.

Northeastern Ontario will see heavy rain beginning early Tuesday morning and lasting through the day and night, with rainfall totals reaching 30-50 mm by Wednesday afternoon in some spots.

Southwestern Ontario will also see moderate to heavy rain starting early Wednesday morning, which will then spread eastward to the Golden Horseshoe and Eastern Ontario by late morning. However, some models indicate that the rain might weaken before reaching Eastern Ontario, resulting in only a few millimeters. Southwestern and Central Ontario could see rainfall amounts of 5-15 mm.

Wednesday will bring a dramatic change as a cold front sweeps across Southern Ontario, leading to a significant temperature drop by the day’s end. By Wednesday evening, temperatures across much of Southern Ontario will fall sharply into the low to mid-single digits, giving us a reminder that winter is just around the corner.

Early October Windstorm Will Blow Across the Prairies This Weekend

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The first weekend of October is shaping up to feel like true fall across the Prairies, with a strong low-pressure system bringing powerful wind gusts of 70-100 km/h. These winds are set to begin later this afternoon and continue throughout the day on Saturday. The prolonged high winds will likely strip many trees of their remaining leaves and could pose a serious hazard to traffic, especially for transport trucks and trailers

The windstorm will kick off in the Alberta Foothills this afternoon, quickly spreading across Southern Alberta as the evening progresses. Expect pockets of gusts exceeding 90 km/h along the QE2 corridor south of Calgary and near the American border. These intense gusts won’t last long in Alberta, though, as the winds are expected to ease overnight.

The storm will move eastward into Saskatchewan through the evening and overnight hours. By morning, the low-pressure centre will stall and the winds will intensify, leading to widespread gusts approaching, and in some areas surpassing, 100 km/h across much of Southern Saskatchewan. These fierce winds will persist into the late afternoon and early evening.

The system will push into Manitoba by late Saturday morning, with strong winds continuing throughout the day before gradually subsiding. The strongest gusts, reaching over 90 km/h, are expected in the southwest corner of the province, but many parts of Southern Manitoba will still experience significant gusts.

Temperatures will cool down a bit following this windstorm, serving as just a taste of the fall storms we can expect as the season progresses.