Snowfall Warning Issued: Up to 15 cm Expected

Toronto braces for up to 15 cm of snow with ice pellets overnight. Poor visibility and dangerous travel conditions expected. Stay safe and plan ahead!

Toronto is under a Snowfall Warning, with a significant winter storm set to arrive this afternoon and continue into Thursday morning. As of 7:00 AM, it’s -9°C at Pearson International Airport, with a wind chill of -16°C thanks to a northeast wind at 17 km/h.

The humidity sits at 53%, and the barometric pressure is at 102.7 kPa, but it’s falling—a sure sign that stormy weather is on the way.

The morning starts off cloudy, with a 40% chance of flurries by this afternoon before the real snowstorm kicks in. By late afternoon, snowfall will begin, with up to 2 cm expected before the evening rush hour. The wind will pick up, blowing from the east at 40 km/h, gusting to 60 km/h, making conditions even more treacherous. Temperatures will reach a high of -3°C, but with the wind chill, it’ll feel closer to -14°C.

Tonight: Heavy Snow, Ice Pellets, and Strong Winds

The real trouble starts tonight, with heavy snowfall mixing with ice pellets around midnight. Snowfall rates could hit a blinding 2 to 4 cm per hour, making for dangerous driving conditions. By morning, total accumulation is expected to be between 10 and 20 cm.

The wind will remain strong out of the east at 40 km/h, gusting to 60 km/h, before easing up slightly overnight. Interestingly, temperatures will rise overnight, reaching +1°C by morning, meaning some areas could see a slushy mess instead of powdery snow.

Areas to the west, including Hamilton and Burlington, could also see freezing rain, adding to the hazardous conditions. If you have evening travel plans, expect poor visibility, slippery roads, and a slow, messy commute.

Thursday: Snow Ends, But Cold and Windy Conditions Persist

By Thursday morning, the snow will taper off, leaving behind cloudy skies with a 40% chance of lingering flurries. Near Lake Ontario, some of that snow could turn into rain in the morning as temperatures hover around +1°C. However, as the day progresses, the temperature will fall to -3°C by the afternoon, with a wind chill of -10°C.

The wind will shift westward, blowing at 30 km/h, gusting to 50 km/h, adding an extra bite to the air.

Thursday night will be partly cloudy, with a 30% chance of flurries and a low of -8°C.

Looking Ahead: More Flurries and a Snowy Weekend

Friday brings a mix of sun and cloud, with a high of -5°C—a brief break before another round of potential snowfall. Friday night sees a 40% chance of snow and a low of -6°C.

Saturday looks stormy again, with periods of snow expected and a high of -1°C. The snow will likely continue into the evening, with a 60% chance of flurries and an overnight low of -5°C.

How to Prepare for the Snowstorm

• Commuters: Expect a slippery, slow drive home tonight and poor visibility. If possible, avoid unnecessary travel.
• Transit Users: Be ready for delays as snow-covered roads will impact TTC and GO Transit service.
• Pedestrians: With the potential for freezing rain overnight, sidewalks could become icy—wear boots with good grip.
• Homeowners: Get those shovels and salt ready—this snowfall will be heavy and wet, especially by morning.

Toronto Weather Trivia

Did you know? Toronto’s biggest single-day snowfall on record was 48.3 cm, set on December 11, 1944. While tonight’s 15 cm isn’t record-breaking, it’s still enough to make for a miserable evening commute!