This week, a Colorado Low is headed towards southern Ontario, bringing all types of precipitation such as rain, snow, and ice pellets. The cold air we’ve been seeing this weekend will begin to move out Monday as temps are expected to climb around the freezing mark and will continue to do so over the coming days courtesy of the low-pressure system originating from the US. These types of freeze and thaw patterns should continue for most of March, as we are now entering a period where we are getting increasingly more sunlight and the warm air is beginning to surge more north.

The majority of this event should be rain for southern Ontario, although mixed precipitation is possible. Tuesday, as the warm front passes through, southern Ontario should see about 10-20 mm of rain by the end of this event. Combined with possible snowmelt and ice jams, it could heighten the risk of flooding in low-lying areas. Northern Ontario is expected to see snow as the cold is wrapped around the low-pressure system. This could lead to challenging travel conditions and reduced visibility in those regions as snow totals could climb up to 25 cm+. Residents are advised to stay updated on weather alerts and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety during this time. Temperatures are expected to reach upwards of 5°C in the GTA, with areas near Windsor and Niagara potentially seeing double digits! This warming trend is a welcoming change to spring after a particularly chilly winter. As the low pressure moves out, the cold air is anticipated to wrap around the low and surge back, bringing the risk of minor accumulations of snow, as well as the risk of ice formation due to the recent rainfall, up to 3 cm is possible for the GTA but could be less due to the warm surface. This shift in temperatures could create hazardous driving conditions, especially during the overnight hours.

ENVIRONMENT CANADA FORECAST