20-50 cm possible as dangerous snow squalls continue into Friday

A chilly, snowy start to the year is underway across southern Ontario as an Arctic airmass flexes its influence over the region.

Expect snow squalls off Lake Huron and Georgian Bay to continue through Friday, leading to poor visibility and dangerous driving conditions in the affected areas.

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Snow squalls persist in southern Ontario

Subfreezing temperatures and gusty winds will create favourable conditions for snow squalls to continue churning off Lake Huron and Georgian Bay through Friday, lingering into Saturday morning.

Snow will be light and fluffy amid the chilly air temperatures; as a result, blowing snow will remain a significant concern for the duration of this event.

Expect bands of lake-effect snow to persist through Friday and into the beginning of the weekend. The snow belts, as well as communities north of Barrie, could see an additional 20-50 cm of accumulation. Continued road closures are likely.

A particularly dangerous squall is forecast to lock into plate late Thursday and into Friday for the Collingwood, Barrie, Midland, and Orillia areas, producing locally up to 50 cm of snowfall in the hardest-hit locations. Road closures are possible for Highways 400 and 11.

In addition to the snowfall, dangerous wind chills are likely throughout southern Ontario as the cold temperatures persist. Temperatures will fall close to -25°C for Ottawa early Friday, with readings closer to -30°C in Timmins during the overnight hours.

Stay with The Weather Network for the latest on conditions across southern Ontario

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