Weekend Storm Maps

UPDATE

THE EXACT TRACK OF THIS STORM HAS BECOME MORE CLEAR. WINTER STORM WARNINGS AND WATCHES ALONG WITH FREEZING RAIN WARNINGS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR DIFFERENT AREAS OF SOUTHERN ONTARIO. PLEASE CLICK YOUR REGION ON THE MAP BELOW MY ARTICLE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON YOUR SPECIFIC WEATHER ALERT. I AM NOW RELEASING SNOWFALL PREDICTIONS FOR DIFFERENT CITIES BASED ON ENVIRONMENT CANADA DATA AS WELL AS MY OWN.

TORONTO - 5-7 CENTIMETERS
HAMILTON - 5-7 CENTIMETERS
BURLINGTON - 5-7 CENTIMETERS
MISSISAUGA - 5-7 CENTIMETERS
BRAMPTON - 8-15 CENTIMETERS
NEWMARKET - 15-18 CENTIMETERS
BARRIE - 25-35 CENTIMETERS
ORANGEVILLE - 15-25 CENTIMETERS
KITCHENER - 10-15 CENTIMETERS
PERRYSOUND - 25-35 CENTIMETERS
GODERICH - 25-35 CENTIMETERS
SARNIA - 20-30 CENTIMETERS
STRATFORD - 15-20 CENTIMETERS
COLLINGWOOD - 25-35 CENTIMETERS

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE PREDICTIONS DO NOT INCLUDE SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN WHICH IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT AREAS ALONG LAKE ERIE AND LAKE ONTARIO. THESE SNOWFALL TOTALS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE LAKE EFFECT SNOW EVENT WHICH IS EXPECTED TO START UP ON MONDAY. THE AREAS BETWEEN HAMILTON AND TORONTO ARE EXPECTED TO RECIEVE LESS SNOW BECAUSE OF ANTICIPATED DRY SLOT.

It has been a long wait for snow lovers, but this weekend might be their big break. A low pressure system from the west is expected to trek eastward towards Southern Ontario, bringing a mixed bag of precipitation for some, and a snow event for others. A secondary low along the east coast is also expected to form and join up with the first low. Both systems are expected to spread a fair amount of precipitation into the Great Lakes and Midwest. The exact track of this system is still uncertain and things could change slightly within the next 24 hours, however we do have a better idea of the storm track as the weather models become more consistent in their way of thinking. Current indications do show us that the storm system will reach Southwestern Ontario by late Saturday night, and then reach Toronto by Sunday morning.

I put together a snow map for Southern Ontario based on data from Environment Canada. South of a line from Sarnia to Vaughn, and then to Cobourg, you can expect a mixed event consisting of rain and snow. North of a line from Sarnia to Vaughn, and then Cobourg, you can expect mostly snow. I did not include areas around Kingston and Ottawa in the snow map above, because I am expecting mostly rain for these areas with a brief changeover to snow. A general snow amount of 5 - 6 centimeters is not unlikely south of a line from Cobourg to Renfrew, which would include Kingston and Ottawa. Environment Canada is expected to issue warnings or watches for key areas in Southern Ontario during the next 24 - 36 hours.

The storm is expected to end for most of Southern Ontario by late Sunday night or early Monday morning.  Shortly after this storm departs, we will see cold air sweep into Southern Ontario. Strong winds will develop and create zero visibility for a lot of different areas. Snowsqualls will also develop and possibly contribute another three feet of snow to snowbelt regions. I will update you as soon as I get more information on the track and timing of this storm as well as the snowsquall event.