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

Storm to bring snowy commute Friday morning

With 10 to 15 cm of snow expected in Toronto and the GTA throughout the day on Friday and winds gusting up to 80 km/h at times, commuting Friday morning may be tricky, said Environment Canada meteorologist Jim Prime.

“The blowing snow is probably what people are going to notice when they’re driving in, because the winds are going to pick up and we’re going to have that fresh snow.”

The light flurries falling early Thursday should end by mid-morning, Prime said. But a low-pressure system currently in Colorado is expected to bring a fresh wave of winter weather to southern Ontario overnight.

Prime predicted snow would begin falling in the Windsor area around midnight Thursday and would start accumulating in Toronto a few hours later. But only about 2 to 4 cm are expected overnight in Toronto, with the majority of accumulation coming during the day on Friday.

While Toronto and the GTA are looking at about 10 to 15 cm, the area from Windsor to Niagara, along the shore of Lake Erie, is under a winter storm watch and predicted to get up to 20 to 25 cm. of snow in some parts, Prime said. 

As for temperatures, Toronto can expect a high of zero on Friday and -3C on Saturday under sunny skies. But things will warm up into Sunday and Monday with predicted highs of 4C and 9C respectively. 

--Christine Dobby, Staff Reporter

Winter storm may bring ice pellets to Hamilton, London

Environment Canada is warning that another winter storm is set to hit southern Ontario Sunday evening with snow in some cities, including Hamilton and London, possibly turning to ice pellets.

Freezing rain is expected in the ‘extreme southwest’ of Ontario and may cause icy driving conditions Monday morning.

Environment Canada issued a winter storm watch for most of the southeastern part of the province, predicting the potential of up to 20 cm of snow in some places.

A low pressure system now over Colorado is expected to track east toward the Great Lakes and pass just south of Lake Erie by Sunday evening.

Snow and blowing snow are expected for areas from Goderich across the Waterloo region and into western parts of the GTA.

As of 8 p.m. Sunday evening Environment Canada had ended the storm warning for Mississauga – though the city is still expected to see 5 to 10 cm of snow.

Cities to the North and East of Toronto will likely see no more than 2 cm of snow fall.

The northeastern parts of the GTA, including the City of Toronto, will likely avoid the brunt of the storm but can still expect accumulation in the range of 5 to 10 cm by Monday morning, according to the weather agency.

After a brief taste of spring on Friday, followed by plunging temperatures Saturday, Toronto remained chilly Sunday morning with a temperature of minus 10 and a wind chill of minus 18.

By Monday night the mercury is expected to drop to minus 13.

After the spurt of balmy weather, powerful winds of up to 100 km/h downed powerlines, knocked down trees and tore part of the roof off a strip mall in the city’s West End.

Thousands were left without power over the weekend but Hydro One says it has restored power for nearly 50, 000 customers.

Some 2,600 customers are still without electricity. Hydro One says the remaining customers are in more rural areas may not have their power restored until Monday.

Christine Dobby and Hayley Kelman, with files from Canadian Press

Say goodbye to spring -- snowstorm on the way

Don’t call it an early spring just yet -- freezing temperatures and another snowstorm are in store for Family Day.

“We get a reminder this weekend that we have a bit more winter to go,” said Geoff Coulson, Environment Canada climatologist.

Temperatures will dip to about -6C Friday evening. Over the next week, they will drop below seasonal temperatures, with highs of -2C Saturday, -3C Sunday and -4C on Monday.

Along with the cold, a storm system is expected to hit the GTA around midday Sunday and continue into the early hours of Monday. Toronto can expect snow to hit Sunday, with early predictions of possibly 10 to 15 cm, although Coulson said it is too early to say for sure.

“The system hasn’t got itself organized yet,” said Coulson, adding that Environment Canada will issue a Special Weather Statement Friday night once they are clear on the track of the storm.

Friday’s temperatures rose to an almost record-breaking 10C.  The warmest Feb.18 on record was in 1949 with 10.6C.

--Noel Grzetic, Staff Reporter

 

Video: De-icing planes at Pearson

Jetting off somewhere warm when it’s freezing out? Make sure your plane had a hot morning shower. No worries though, according to the GTAA, Pearson International Airport claims to have the largest and most advanced de-icing facilities in the world. On a recent frosty February morning, we record the facility in action. Video by Chris So.

Watch for falling temperatures...

Monday morning’s balmy weather won’t last long in the GTA — the forecast calls for freezing temperatures coupled with winds travelling at 70 km/h by this afternoon.

North of the GTA, several flash freeze warnings were issued for areas such as Dufferin, Orillia, Barrie and Parry Sound.

Geoff Coulson, Environment Canada’s warning preparedness meteorologist, said the weather agency will only issue the warning in the GTA if the frigid temperatures start while it rains.

Flash freezing occurs when a cold front moves in after snow or rainfall, resulting in freezing rain or snow. This can result in slippery and dangerous road conditions.

Coulson said the showers should taper off by 1 p.m. and the gusty winds may dry roads and sidewalks before the freezing temperatures hit the city at about 2 or 3 p.m.

“But the rapid drop in temperatures in the afternoon could still make for icy conditions,” said Coulson, warning Toronto commuters.

By the afternoon commute, the mercury will dip to -5 C and continue to drop, reaching -13 C Monday night.

The cold snap will continue for most of the week, but we will have a high of 13 C on Friday with showers and then dip down to -2 C on Saturday.

But the double-digit positive temperatures will not last long, as the weather will fall back to more seasonal temperatures with a high of -2 C on Saturday.

Coulson said this is normal this time of year because of “the push-and-pull effect that radically impacts the weather as cold winds from the north and warmer air masses south of the Great Lakes battle each other,” he said.

This should continue for the next several weeks, right until spring, he added.

 

--Daniela Germano, Staff Reporter