Toronto is about to see a significant weather shift in the next day or so as an Alberta Clipper system sweeps through southern Ontario. This weather system is expected to bring a mix of precipitation and usher in the coldest air of the season.
Leading up to the arrival of the Alberta Clipper on Wednesday, a weak system is currently causing wet flurries mixed with rain showers in the region. While some light rain or drizzle is expected overnight into Wednesday morning, no significant accumulation is anticipated in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) due to temperatures hovering between 3°C and 4°C. The precipitation is likely to diminish by this evening, possibly between 6 and 8 p.m., and continue through the night into Wednesday morning.
As Wednesday progresses, a cold front will move in, bringing heavier flurries to the GTA. Temperatures will start to drop in the afternoon, leading to intermittent flurries in Toronto through Wednesday night.
While traditional snow belts near Georgian Bay are likely to experience intensified lake-effect snow, Toronto is expected to see only light flurries.
Temperatures will remain relatively mild until midday on Wednesday, with the high of 4°C expected around 11 a.m. However, temperatures will plummet rapidly after lunchtime, reaching around 1°C by mid-afternoon with a wind chill that could feel close to -5. By Wednesday evening, temperatures are forecasted to drop to approximately -5°C, with wind chills nearing -11.
Thursday morning is anticipated to bring the coldest temperatures so far this season, with morning lows around -15°C and wind chills dropping to the -20s. The temperature is expected to feel even colder, closer to -18, at its warmest point on Thursday.
Following a brief return to slightly milder temperatures near -2°C for a couple of days, this cold air mass is projected to linger until the end of the month.
For those unfamiliar, an Alberta Clipper is a swift-moving low-pressure system originating in Alberta that travels through the Plains and the Great Lakes region during winter. Typically, it brings light snow, brisk winds, and colder temperatures in its wake.