Toronto woke up to a misty morning on Wednesday, but the city’s calm weather is about to change. Ontario is bracing for strong winds in the GTA and a prolonged snowfall due to a significant weather shift.
Environment Canada has issued a fog advisory for Toronto, warning of low visibility during the morning commute. Motorists are advised to drive cautiously and be alert until the fog clears.
The weather agency mentioned, “Localized thick fog will linger this morning before dissipating.”
A special weather statement is in effect for possible gusts of up to 80 km/h later in the day. These high winds could pose challenges for tall vehicles, pedestrians, and loose objects outdoors.
While Toronto may escape heavy snowfall, other parts of Ontario are gearing up for a multi-day snow squall starting Wednesday night through the weekend.
Forecasters are cautioning about intense bands of lake-effect snow in snowbelt regions, driven by cold air moving over the Great Lakes. Areas near Lake Huron and Georgian Bay could see over 15 to 30 centimeters of snow, leading to poor visibility and whiteout conditions.
Winter storm warnings are in place for various areas, including Lake Superior Park, Thunder Bay, Kirkland Lake, Moosonee, Timmins, and Wawa.
Driving conditions may rapidly deteriorate in these regions with sudden drops in visibility during heavy snowfall.
Up north near Lake Superior, an approaching system is anticipated to bring significant snow accumulations exceeding 30 centimeters in some spots.
Toronto and the GTA are not expected to face heavy snow, but they will feel the impact of incoming Arctic air. Light precipitation mixing with flurries is likely on Thursday and Friday, along with wind chills making temperatures feel much colder than usual.
Overnight, there’s a 40% chance of flurries or rain showers with temperatures dropping to 0°C and gusty winds persisting.
Thursday is forecasted to be cloudy with intermittent blowing snow and strong winds, reaching a high of 1°C during the day. Overnight, heavy flurries are anticipated with a low of -2°C and a wind chill near -10°C by Saturday morning.
Residents planning to travel out of the city should prepare for worsening conditions, especially heading towards cottage country, the Bruce Peninsula, or areas near Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.
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