Toronto's temperature: What goes up, will come down

Don’t get used to today’s balmy weather: temperatures are set to plunge back below zero by Wednesday, according to Environment Canada.

“It’s been a bit of a yo-yo in the past 24 hours and it’s not going to stop,” said Geoff Coulson, a meteorologist with the weather agency.

Toronto and the GTA saw temperatures in the minus teens Monday before the mercury shot up, with most areas at two to three degrees above zero today, Coulson said.

But the reprieve will be short-lived. Patchy periods of freezing rain or drizzle throughout the day will change to snow as temperatures drop back down below freezing at around midnight tonight.

About 2 cm of the white stuff could accumulate overnight and as the snow continues throughout much of Wednesday, Coulson said another 2 to 4 cm could fall throughout the day.

Meanwhile, frigid temperatures are in store for the rest of the week and into the weekend. Coulson predicted a daytime high of -5C for Wednesday and highs of -8C and -9C for Friday and Saturday. The normal high for this time of year is -2C, he said.

Although Environment Canada issued a special weather statement this morning highlighting a possible flash freeze overnight, Coulson said that will depend on the current patchy drizzle giving way to more rain this afternoon.

Coulson said an official warning for Toronto and the GTA is unlikely but did caution motorists to watch for areas with liquid build up today to turn into icy patches by Wednesday.

--Christine Dobby, Staff Reporter

Temperature expected to rise for Tuesday

After experiencing its lowest temperature in two years this morning, Toronto can look forward to above freezing weather Tuesday.

“What’s noteworthy is early this morning we got down to -20 C, with a wind chill of -28, that’s the coldest moment of the winter thus far,” said David Phillips, senior climatologist for Environment Canada. “This is the coldest it’s been in two years.”

Those frigid temperatures are expected to last through Monday morning, but Environment Canada says a low pressure system moving in from South Dakota may bring freezing rain and the potential for more snow.

As that happens, the temperature is set to rise from –20 C to 3 C in around 30 hours.

“Going from face-numbing wind chill to an almost balmy January thaw — you don’t see that kind of dramatic switch around often” says Phillips.

The system moving in later Monday is expected to bring warm air as it moves in from the west, but it’s also “relatively dry.”

“This is not a system that has much moisture associated with it,” he said. “It may not be too messy, or too bad — it really depends on whether there is in fact freezing rain.”

If that happens, it could make for a messy morning commute on Tuesday.

“We may be lucky and go from flurries straight to the liquid stuff,” said Phillips.

Despite the warning for flurries, no snow accumulation is expected, just a continuing “flip-flop” from cold to warm and back again with Wednesday expected to return to negative temperatures.

The rest of the week is not likely to see a high above freezing, with temperatures remaining around –7 C, around 2 degrees colder than normal.

But Phillips says we shouldn’t be putting away our shovels just yet as more snow is anticipated for Friday, though it’s too early to say exactly how much.

“The weekend will be very cold with a high of –8 C and a low of –15 C, the ice will definitely thicken up” said Phillips.

“Ice fishing will be full speed ahead, and those not liking winter will be wishing they’re in Florida.”

- Hayley Kelman

Toronto remains under cold weather alert

Toronto remains under an extreme cold weather alert for the second day, as residents wake up to a wind chill of -17 C.

Environment Canada warns that Monday’s temperature may dip to -17C, the coldest day yet this winter.

Areas east of the city could see temperatures as low as -25 C.

Climatologist David Phillips says to expect temperatures to rise to 5 C on Tuesday before dropping again on Wednesday, a “yo-yo” weather pattern that he says has characterized much of January.

 “It’s as if the weather out your front door is going to be different than that out your back door.”

An extreme cold weather alert is issued when temperatures fall below –15 C without wind chill, or when extreme weather conditions such as ice storms or blizzards are predicted.

During an extreme cold weather alert, street outreach workers focus on providing transportation to shelters, where extra spaces are added to accommodate more people.

— Noel Grzetic, with files from Hayley Kelman

Extreme cold weather alert as temperature set to drop

Astra, a four year-old Golden Retriever/Poddle mix plays in the snow at High Park in Toronto. Toronto Star/Andrew Wallace

The city of Toronto has issued an extreme cold weather alert as temperatures are set to dip below – 13 tonight.

The overnight snowfall has left roads slick and dangerous, leading to numerous collisions on both city streets and highways. According to Environment Canada climatologist Ronald Lee motorists need to monitor road conditions, due to blowing and drifting snow.

MORE PHOTOS OF WINTER STORM

“Right now we’re not looking at any snow squalls, but visibility can be reduced to less than one kilometer” he says.

However the snow is already coming to an end in parts of the province such as Sarnia and Windsor, and is expected to come to an end around 3 pm Saturday in Toronto.

Dave Philips, Senior Climatologist with Environment Canada says the snow fall is due to an Alberta clipper, a fast moving storm system that begins in the Prairies and moves east.

“It’s a dry system with a little dusting of snow” says Philips, “it moves fast like a clipper ship moves through water.” Around 5 to 7 cm of snow is expected to fall in the city.

The storm will only hit southern and central parts of the province, with more snow falling in areas around the lakes.

“Typically at this time of the year temperatures sit around – 3 degrees, however it’s slightly warmer than normal with temperatures at -1, not face numbing wind chills” says Phillips.

“When the system exits, it will open the way for arctic air, causing temperatures to fall.”

Temperatures are going to drop drastically overnight to a low of – 13, with the wind chill making it feel like – 25.

The cold front will continue Sunday and Monday with temperatures continuing to fall. Monday morning is expected to be minus 14 – the coldest day of the winter so far.

However Phillips says to expect temperatures to then rise Tuesday, with an anticipated high of five degrees.

“Currently we’re expecting another January thaw with some anticipated rain and then temperatures will again drop Wednesday.

This “yo-yo” weather is what characterizes January so far, it’s as if the weather out your front door is going to be different than that out your back door.”

An extreme cold weather alert is usually issued when temperatures fall below – 15 without wind chill, or when extreme weather conditions such as ice storms or blizzards are predicted.

- Hayley Kelman

From floods to snowstorms, blame La Nina

A parked car is buried in snow following a winter storm in Toronto last week. (Darren Calabrese/THE CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO)

If you think this year’s winter is a bit harsher than those in your recent memory, blame La Nina.

Environment Canada says the weather phenomenon has been wreaking havoc around the globe — and having an effect here at home.

“We’ve already had more snow this winter as we had all winter last year,” said David Phillips, senior climatologist.

La Nina, which Phillips describes as “the nasty sister of El Nino,” is the result of the cooling of the Pacific Ocean along the equator and the subsequent changing of wind patterns.

For Canada, this generally leads to colder and longer winters as systems come in from the northern air masses, although Ontario is not usually affected as much as the western provinces.

“What we see is more cold spells and a bit more snow, but it varies,” said Phillips. According to Phillips, the winter may even be a little longer than the last, with the possibility of snow into April.

“It is good for skiers, not good for people who want to save money on their home heating bills,” said Phillips.

La Nina tends to come every three to seven years; scientists are never able to predict its arrival, only what may happen once it’s here.

“It affects the weather around the globe,” said Phillips. “Some of the floods in Brazil, Sri Lanka and Australia are directly related to La Nina.”

Raging floodwaters have swamped thousands of homes and businesses in Queensland, leaving at least 25 people dead and dozens more missing since late November. Rail lines and highways have been washed away in what is shaping up to become Australia's costliest natural disaster.

The flooding follows a spate of severe natural disasters in the past year. While the most deadly was Haiti's earthquake, extreme weather also killed thousands of people across the globe, including a scorching heat wave that choked Russia in the summer and devastating floods that engulfed more than 150,000 square kilometres in Pakistan.

The effects of La Nina can last anywhere from six months to 18 months. El Nino, on the other hand, is the result of temperatures rising in Pacific Ocean along South America, and brings Canada much shorter and warmer winters like that of last year.

“What’s been unusual this year is that it went from El Nino to La Nina almost overnight,” said Phillips, explaining that there is usually a transition period of neutral ocean temperatures between the two.

With files from The Associated Press

This aerial photograph shows residential suburbs inundated as flood waters devastate much of Brisbane on Jan. 13, 2011.(TORSTEN BLACKWOOD/AFP/Getty Images)

Overnight snowfall for Toronto expected

Toronto residents would be wise to keep their snow shovels handy for more snow this weekend.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for most of southern Ontario to brace itself for five to 10 cm of snow beginning overnight Friday.

Toronto is expected to get 7 cm between 2 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, according to Geoff Coulson, meteorologist with Environment Canada.

This is the third system to dump snow on the city since Saturday, when residents woke up to more than 11 cm of snow. The second system came Tuesday, with about 3 cm.

“We didn’t get a lot of snow in Toronto in December but it does look like we are starting to see a bit more of the systems coming up at this time,” said Coulson.

Coulson said this week’s precipitation is fairly normal for this time of year, and that we will be returning to seasonal temperatures as the weather warms up to -1 C on Saturday.

Another system is expected to move through the city on Tuesday, bringing mixed rain and snowfall as the temperature reaches a high of 4 C.

--Noel Grzetic, Staff Reporter

St. John's digs out after snowstorm

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Residents of the Newfoundland capital are recovering from their first major taste of winter.

A weather system moved into the area on Thursday, dumping about 40 centimetres of snow.

The storm has led to many delays and cancellations at St. John's International Airport.

From five to 20 centimetres of snow fell in some other parts of the province.

Environment Canada says southeastern areas could see snow mixed with rain today, along with strong winds.

The storm moved into the province after dumping up to 30 centimetres of snow on parts of the three Maritime provinces.

-- The Canadian Press

Flight delays, power outages after Maritimes storm

Pedestrians shield their faces as a winter storm starts in Halifax on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011. (Andrew Vaughan/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

HALIFAX - Power outages and flight delays continue in the wake of a winter storm that dumped as much as 30 centimetres of snow on parts of the Maritime provinces.

The number of Nova Scotia Power customers without electricity fluctuated between 4,000 and 6,000 early today — down from about 16,000 on Wednesday night.

The utility blamed the outages on heavy snow.

There were also numerous school closures across Nova Scotia today, largely due to poor road conditions.

Flight cancellations continue at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport and the Greater Moncton International Airport.

Snowfall warnings were lifted in most of Nova Scotia but remain in effect for Moncton and southeastern New Brunswick, where another five to 10 centimetres is forecast.

The storm began Wednesday morning in the Maritimes and is moving into Newfoundland today.

Environment Canada has posted snowfall warnings for the Avalon and Burin peninsulas, with a forecast of up to 25 centimetres by Friday morning.

Coastal areas could also experience rain, resulting in lower snowfall amounts.

--The Canadian Press

Worst of GTA storm over: meteorologist

Driving conditions during the early morning rush hour Wednesday on the eastbound Gardiner Expressway. (TIM FINLAN/TORONTO STAR)

GTA motorists are looking at a smoother commute Wednesday evening as a storm that brought more than 10 cm of snow to Toronto overnight and early Wednesday passes. “The worst is over,” Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson said.

Environment Canada ended its special weather statement for snowfall in most parts of the GTA at around 11 a.m. Hamilton received about 15 cm of snow while Brampton and Mississauga had snowfalls of about 12 cm.

The city of Toronto received about 10 cm in total. Residents should look out for drifting snow being carried by north winds clocking in at 30 km/h, Environment Canada said. A steady snowfall continues in the Niagara region, which could receive up to 20 cm before the storm tapers off later in the day, Coulson said.

A snow squall warning in effect in Sarnia will continue until at least the evening. “After that, we’re actually looking at a couple of days of relatively quiet weather,” Coulson said. Sunshine with cloudy periods are in the forecasts over Toronto for Thursday and Friday.

After a slippery morning with dozens of single-vehicle crashes, Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Dave Woodford said all OPP-monitored highways are ready for the afternoon rush. “The majority of the snow is gone from the roads. They’re a little bit wet but they’re in good condition,” he said.

Woodford advised motorists, in addition to driving slowly, to avoid changing lanes. “In between lanes you’re getting a lot of snow buildup and it’s slushy. What happens is, people keep doing lane changes and they end up losing control,” he said.

Air Canada and Porter Airlines have issued travel advisories that numerous flights may be delayed or cancelled because of severe weather in northeastern U.S., Halifax and British Columbia.

About 198 flights, or 16.8 per cent of today’s scheduled flights, were cancelled, the Greater Toronto Airport Authority monitoring Pearson airport said. A Porter Airlines spokesman said about a dozen flights to Newark and Boston have been cancelled. Travellers are advised to check their flight status before making their way to the airport.

-- Gloria Er-Chua, Staff Reporter

No snowfall for morning commute, but roads remain slippery

The snowstorm that hit the GTA late Tuesday evening will clear by the morning, but motorists and pedestrians will have to contend with slippery conditions.

Nearly 10 centimetres of snow fell in the GTA overnight with temperatures dipping down to -8 C.

By Wednesday morning commute and throughout the day, the mercury will remain steady at -6 C, according to meteorologists at Environment Canada.

In the evening, the temperature is expected to lower significantly to -11 C with winds of 20 km/h.

Just a few days ago a significant blast of winter hit the GTA with more than 15 centimetres of snow falling over the weekend.

Another snowstorm began in the U.S. on Monday, making its way up to southwestern Ontario by Tuesday afternoon.

No snow is in the forecast to the remainder of the work week.

Daniela Germano Staff Reporter