Willie Was Right! Early Spring-Like Weather for Southern Ontario; Record Breaking Double-Digit Temperatures on Friday
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At the beginning of February, Wiarton Willie, who did not see his shadow, predicted an early spring for Southern Ontario. It appears that Willie's prediction may indeed reflect the weather pattern as we approach the latter part of this week.
After enjoying several consecutive days of sunshine, this pleasant streak is unfortunately expected to end, with clouds and fog rolling in on Thursday and Friday. It will resemble a Vancouver Or Seattle winter, a trend that has been persistent over the last few months. Early Friday, Southern Ontario will see some scattered showers that will continue throughout the day, but these showers will bring with them a surge of warm air.
In parts of Southwestern Ontario and areas of the Golden Horseshoe, temperatures could reach the 10°C mark on both Thursday and Friday. Friday is anticipated to be the warmest day, with temperatures in Deep Southwestern Ontario nearing the mid-teens. Most areas have temperature records ranging from 8°C to 12°C, records that might be shattered on Friday, according to current models.
Those in Windsor, Chatham, Sarnia, London, Woodstock, and Newmarket can expect maximum temperatures between 10 to 14°C, likely making this the warmest area in the province. Near the Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Lake Ontario shorelines, as well as in the Barrie and Peterborough areas, it will still be quite warm, with temperatures ranging from 8 to 12°C.
In Central and Eastern Ontario, temperatures are predicted to be slightly cooler, falling short of double digits and ranging from 6 to 10°C. Further north, temperatures are expected to hover in the mid-single digits for Algonquin Park and Northeastern Ontario.
In addition to the warmth, fog starting Wednesday night around Lake Erie and the Golden Horseshoe will pose a challenge, with near-zero visibility creating hazardous driving conditions. This may result in some school bus cancellations on Thursday and Friday mornings. The fog is expected to persist into the weekend.
Looking ahead to next week, a return to seasonal temperatures around the freezing mark is expected in most areas. There are signs that we might enter a colder pattern by the end of next week, extending into mid-February, potentially bringing several opportunities for accumulating snow later in the month. However, it's still too early to confirm, and the forecast could change!
