Smoother sailing expected for Thursday morning drive

After a blast of winter Wednesday, motorists can expect better driving conditions for the morning commute Thursday.

Environment Canada is forecasting sunny, clear skies for the day. But temperatures will still be a little chilly — with an expected high of only -1 C, which is significantly below the seasonal normal of 7 C.

This milder weather comes less than 24 hours after Toronto saw just over 11 centimeters of snow fall and temperatures dropping as low as -5 C, according to AccuWeather Canada.

The good news is that the sun is expected to stay for the weekend and temperatures are anticipated to climb above the freezing point for Saturday and Sunday.

Madeleine White, Staff Reporter

Say it ain't snow: Blowing snow, high winds and slick, greasy roads as snow continues to fall

A pedestrian bundles up while trudging through blowing snow on Yonge St. Approximately 8 cm of snow had fallen in the downtown by midday, according to Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips.RANDY RISLING/TORONTO STAR

 

In a move not often taken after March Break, the Toronto Catholic District School Board cancelled all night school classes Wednesday, including English As A Second Language for adults, due to bad weather, although evening courses at the Toronto District School Board were on as usual.

It’s one of the ways the city scrambled to cope with a surprise blast of winter weather — including blowing snow, high winds and slick, greasy roads — that forced drivers to take it slow during the afternoon commute.

Varying reports, ranging between 6-10 cm of snow, have fallen in the city today, and Environment Canada expects an additional 2-4 cm as flurries are expected to continue off and on until midnight.

By the end of the snow dump, western parts of the GTA, including Oakville and Burlington, could see as much as 20 cm of the white stuff.

The spring snowfall is making for treacherous driving conditions: Police and emergency personnel have been busy throughout the day responding to fender benders all over the city. Toronto police said there have “easily been dozens” of minor accidents, though no serious injuries have been reported.

Winds near Pearson International Airport were gusting around 46 km/h Wednesday, said Geoff Coulson, meteorologist with Environment Canada, and causing “major” problems with blowing snow.

In Oakville, Burlington and Hamilton winds are gusting up to 60 km/h.

“It’s that additional factor with the wind. It’s not quite a white out, but still much reduced visibility with snow and blowing snow,” said Coulson.

Despite road crews treating major thoroughfares, Coulson says secondary roads could still be slippery.

Those travelling towards the south west should take extra care: While Toronto has been getting mostly snow, Kitchener and London have been hit with a mix of snow, ice and rain.

“As slick as our roads may be here, driving conditions there could be even more slippery,” he said.

The winter weather is not uncommon in late March and early April, said Dave Phillips, Environment Canada senior climatologist.

In the last 70 years, there have only been three Aprils without snow in Toronto.

The biggest dump was on April 10, 1939, when 27 cm of snow fell on the city.

“Nature has got the capability to produce these spring surprises, so this is not a shocker and it may not be the last one,” says Phillips.

The latest blast of winter weather is expected to end by midnight.

- Wendy Gillis, Emmanuel Samoglou and Louise Brown

Snow for Wednesday morning commute

It may be the first week of spring, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to put away the winter gear just yet.

Snow is on its way and many Torontonians can expect about two centimetres to have already fallen by the morning commute on Wednesday.

“It looks like Mother Nature can’t make up her mind, but the snow is coming” said Environment Canada meteorologist Rob Cuhn.

The agency initially forecasted that the snow would start falling by mid-afternoon on Tuesday but Cuhn said the storm was slightly delayed.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement of the city of Toronto Tuesday night, stating that a strong low pressure area over Iowa is making its way over to southern Ontario.

“Latest indications suggest the heaviest snow will fall in regions from Southern Lake Huron across the Stratford Cambridge and Woodstock areas to Hamilton and Niagara,” the advisory stated. “Snowfall warnings are in effect for these regions.”

Cuhn said it is expected to start snowing in the city at about 3 a.m. on Wednesday with a total of five to 10 centimetres by the evening.

“It will be quite gradient across the city and the further west you go in the GTA, the heavier the snowfall will be,” he said. “By Wednesday night the east could see as little as two to three centimetres.”

The weather will begin to clear again on Thursday, added Cuhn, with plenty of sun but temperatures hovering below the freezing mark.

Daniela Germano, Staff Reporter

Who stole spring? Snow on the way

Spring may have officially arrived, but more snow is on its way.

Torontonians can expect to see about 2 to 4 centimetres of snow by Wednesday morning, said a special weather statement issued by Environment Canada.

Temperatures on Tuesday are expected to reach a high of 6C as clouds begin to accumulate.

Precipitation is heading north from the United States, and is expected to hit Southwestern Ontario by Tuesday mid-afternoon. Areas south of Toronto are expected to receive freezing rain, ice pellets and snow, while Toronto and the GTA is expected to get only snow as temperatures dip to -4C.

“A lot of folks are thinking that spring has officially arrived. Maybe they have the idea that they can put away the snow tires or that’s the last of the winter-like weather. I guess it’s a bit of a reminder that we can still have a bit of snowfall through the month of March in the GTA,” said Environment Canada climatologist Geoff Coulson.

The snowfall may continue into the month of April as well, he added.

By the time the precipitation ceases Wednesday evening, Toronto will get between five and 10 centimetres of snow.

Environment Canada is urging drivers to exercise caution throughout Southwestern Ontario since the varying conditions will likely produce slippery roads. With strong easterly winds on Wednesday, there will also be reduced visibility as a result of blowing snow.

However, there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Clear skies are expected for Thursday and the sunny streak will likely remain until early next week.

“The only downside is that we’re expecting temperatures to remain cooler than normal. Normal highs for Toronto should be 6C and we’re only forecasting temperatures just above freezing,” said Coulson.

--Liem Vu, Staff Reporter

After a 'normal' winter, expect a soggy spring

Winter is officially over, but history tells us that Mother Nature doesn’t read the calendar so well.

So there’s likely more snow and cold to come in March and perhaps in April, too.

In fact, flurries are on the horizon for this Wednesday and Thursday in Toronto.

But all in all, we “lived a charmed life” this winter in Toronto, according to Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips.

While places such as Windsor were pummelled with 200 centimetres of snow and London got 300, Toronto escaped with a normal winter — a paltry 110 cm. The average snowfall for Toronto is 103 cm.

In fact, while the East Coast was experiencing “a storm a week,” this winter, Toronto was an area of calm.

“This was as normal, or as close to normal, as you could get,” Phillips said.

It may not have felt normal for many who recalled that last winter was the warmest on record with the least amount of snowfall (52 cm) on record.

If you thought this winter was colder than normal, you’re wrong.

The average temperature from November through to March 20 was 2.3 C; normal is 2.4 C.

The average total precipitation was 266 mm and the average is 262.

“Last year was one of the most benign winters, but this was a real winter,” Phillips said.

And the snow didn’t come slamming in. There were only four days that got 10 centimetres of snow or more.

You couldn’t even complain about extensive cold snaps.

The most brutal cold snap lasted two days on Jan. 23 when the mercury plunged to -20.2 C and on Jan. 24 when temperatures fell to -21.2 C.

In all there were 13 days when the temperatures dipped below -15 C, but typically we would see 20 of those bone-chilling days.

Although it says spring on the calendar and we’ve already been blessed with a day of 15.5 C temperatures (March 18), Mother Nature often offers us these “spring teasers,” as Phillips calls them.

The Environment Canada forecast is calling for a warmer than normal spring, but it should also be wetter than normal.

And although Monday was the first official full day of spring, Phillips says “nature’s spring” is still a few weeks to come.

He calls “nature’s spring” the time of year when the buds are coming up and the birds are back. It’s the time of year when “you can smell spring, those earthy smells.”

Those smells usually arrive in Windsor by March 31 and in Toronto a little later, by April 3 and at Pearson International Airport by April 12.

Typically, the month of March produces about 11 per cent of the snowfall, so winter is not yet dead, the climatologist stresses.

“You can’t count out winter,” Phillips says. “There’s a saying that is so true. The first day of spring is one thing, but the first spring day is another. We somehow think we’re owed spring.”

-- Curtis Rush, Staff Reporter

 

Snow for afternoon commute

Heavy snow is in store for some commuters around the GTA Friday, according to Environment Canada.

A special weather statement released for York, Durham, Halton and Peel regions said a low pressure system was moving over Ontario and bringing colder air and snow.

The snowfall — heavy at times – will likely dump 3 to 5 cm of the white stuff each hour, accumulating to 10 cm over the course of the day.

The periods of heavy snow will significantly reduce visibility and will affect part of the afternoon commute, particularly in areas outside the city limits.

Toronto was not included in the statement, but the city will experience periods of rain and snow throughout the day with a steady temperature of 1C. 

The mixed bag of precipitation will continue this weekend, with periods of flurries and rain  Saturday and a high of 6C. There is also a risk of freezing rain Saturday morning.

Other areas of Southern Ontario are already feeling the effects from this system. London OPP say there were more than 150 accidents – and some injuries - in the region Friday morning.

OPP urged motorists to drive for the snowy conditions and avoid unnecessary travel altogether. Environment Canada is predicting up to 25 cm. of snow before system clears that area Friday afternoon.

Several school divisions in the region cancelled buses and closed schools Friday morning, although there was bus service in London.

In Windsor and Essex County, buses were cancelled outside the city, but schools were open.

-- Noel Grzetic, Staff Reporter

Heavy rain expected for much of Thursday

(Steve Russell/Toronto Star)

It’s going to be a dreary day in the city with plenty of rain and slush, which will linger for the rest of the work week.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Thursday morning for Toronto and much of southern Ontario, stating that 15 to 30 millimetres of rain will fall by the end of the day.

This comes after nearly 15 millimetres of mixed rain and snow fell on Wednesday, making for a difficult morning and afternoon commute in the city.

A large low pressure system that made its way to southern Ontario from Texas is creating the wet weather and fog patches, which could cause for tricky driving conditions.

The Toronto and Regional Conservation Authority also issued a high water safety bulletin for the week, warning people to steer clear from rivers and streams.

“Expected rainfall amounts will increase water levels in rivers and streams and cause them to become fast flowing, creating dangerous conditions,” the statement advises.

But on the bright side, the mercury is set to hover at about 6 C even into the evening, which is 2 C higher than average temperatures for this time of year.

The balmy and wet weather is expected to stay for much of Friday, but temperatures will start to dip into the evening as the rain begins to taper off.

Environment Canada is predicting that the soggy weather will clear up by the weekend, just before March break commences.

-- Daniela Germano, Staff Reporter

Driving to Florida? Here's the I-75 forecast

Families are in for a mostly sunny March Break drive to Florida after Thursday, though there will be areas of freezing rain and snowfall closer to the Canadian border throughout the weekend.

The roughly 2,000-kilometre drive on the popular I-75 route passes through five states —Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia — before hitting Jacksonville, Florida.

Forecasts by the Weather Network show the drive will get progressively better as travellers head south.

Those entering the I-75 near Saginaw or Flint, Michigan may find the road slippery from scattered flurries, ice pellets and freezing rain predicted for Friday into the weekend. The highway will also be slippery nearing Detroit, with moderately heavy rain forecasted for Thursday.

Drivers starting their trek on Thursday will experience a mixed bag of weather along the way, the National Weather Service in the U.S. predicts.

Northwestern Ohio will see scattered snowfall that will end nearing Cincinnati in the southern part of the state. The forecast is clear and sunny for Kentucky, but drivers passing through Knoxville in eastern Tennessee may run into showers there.

Thunderstorms in north-central Georgia, including Atlanta, overnight Wednesday could make roads slippery and wet early Thursday. Some rainfall is expected along I-75 down to Valdosta, Georgia in the southern part of the state before travellers reach Florida.

Friday’s forecast has scattered flurries in Michigan, but the route should clear up in Ohio and be sunny with a mix of clouds the rest of the drive south, according to the Weather Network.

Saturday drivers should be prepared for a mix of snow and rain around Detroit that will turn into snow showers nearing Toledo. The skies should clear up in Kentucky and the highway is expected to be dry all the way to Florida.

Similar conditions are expected along I-75 for Sunday and Monday. There is also a chance of light showers in parts of Tennessee and Georgia on Monday that could make the drive slippery and wet.

Tampa, Orlando, Miami and Fort Lauderdale are expecting thundershowers on Thursday. They should clear up by Friday and the rest of the weekend in all four cities looks sunny with temperature highs in the low-20s.

 

--Gloria Er-Chua, Staff Reporter

Slushy commute Wednesday evening

The wet snow in Toronto will turn into rain late Wednesday afternoon as temperatures rise, meaning the commute home could be slippery and slushy as parts of the GTA are expected to receive between 15 and 22 mm of rainfall.

The temperature is expected to hover around 3 Celsius throughout the evening after dipping to 1 Celsius in the early afternoon.

Conditions could alternate throughout the day, a special weather statement by Environment Canada said.

In the city, easterly winds are gusting to 50 km/h which could blow snow around and reduce visibility.

Significant snow, heavy rain and freezing rain conditions have prompted the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to issue a high water safety bulletin.

The advisory, which will be in effect through Sunday, says expected rainfall amounts will increase water levels, creating “dangerous conditions” near rivers and streams.

Melting ice in local ponds and lakes will also create slippery and unstable conditions.

Snowfall is also expected around the city.

Downtown Toronto may receive up to 2 cm of slushy accumulation, but the city’s north end heading into the rest of the GTA could receive up to 5 cm of snow.

Rain is expected to continue on Thursday and Friday throughout the GTA. Areas north of Lake Ontario, including Greater Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie, could receive between 15 and 20 cm. of snow on Wednesday.

Gloria Er-Chua, Staff Reporter

Wednesday commute will be slippery and snowy

Tuesday may have been a sunny day, but another winter-weather system will make Wednesday morning’s commute a snowy and slippery one.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for southern Ontario Tuesday afternoon, warning of an approaching low pressure system from Texas.

Precipitation will begin in southwestern Ontario Tuesday evening and spread across the rest of the southern and eastern parts of the province into Wednesday.

A mixture of rain and snow is predicted for the southwest and near Lake Erie, but most other areas can expect snow.

Rainfall warnings have been issued for Windsor, Essex, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, Simcoe, Delhi and Norfolk. About 10 to 15 centimetres of snowfall is expected for regions north and east of Lake Ontario.

Toronto will likely see just a couple centimetres of slushy snow, according to the weather agency, but the northern parts of the city could get closer to 10 cm before changing into rain.

Drivers are being warned to brace for reduced visibilities with blowing snow due to southeast winds.

As milder air moves into the area Wednesday with an expected high of 2C, the snow will change to rain in most areas by the afternoon with rainfall amounts of 10 to 20 mm expected by Wednesday evening.

“It looks like a nasty late-winter system,” Ashton said.

And the bad weather will linger.

Ashton expects rain to fall Thursday and Friday as students and teachers prepare for March break, which begins for many at the end of the week.

But at least it will be warm. Thursday's predicted high is 8C.