Great Lakes Snow Factory Working Overtime This Week to Disrupt Travel
Snowfall from the Great Lakes is set to impact travel across Ontario this week, with varying amounts expected in different regions
Ontario, Great Lakes, Lake Superior, Lake Huron, GTA, Snowfall
Ontario: This week, the Great Lakes are really kicking into gear with snow. A couple of systems are rolling in, and they’re going to make travel a bit tricky.
There’s a low-pressure system hanging out over Lake Superior, which means some areas will see a lot of snow. Meanwhile, another low is sticking around Lake Ontario, bringing some unsettled weather from Sunday to Tuesday.
So, expect a mixed bag of snowfall. Some places near Lake Superior could get over 20 cm, while the Greater Toronto Area might only see a light dusting of 1-3 cm.
Even with lighter snow, commutes could be slower and slippery, especially in the areas that get hit harder.
With the lakes mostly ice-free, the warmer water is keeping things unstable, which helps these low-pressure systems stick around longer.
As we head into Sunday evening, the snow will start swirling around Lake Superior, spreading light to moderate amounts across the region.
On Monday, the snow will be a bit more scattered in southern Ontario, but we can expect organized snowfall along Lake Huron by Sunday night.
The GTA might dodge the worst of it, but a little accumulation is still possible.
As the cold air wraps around the low on Monday, we could see some lake-effect snow bands for places like the Bruce Peninsula and Collingwood.
Wind gusts could reach up to 60 km/h along Lake Huron, and even 70 km/h along the northern shore of Lake Erie, leading to blowing snow in open areas.
The biggest challenges will be in the snowbelts and northern Ontario, where travel could get pretty tough.
On Tuesday, the lake-effect snow will keep going, spilling into Wednesday. And guess what? More snow is on the way later in the week.
A trough from the Prairies will bring a few more centimeters of snow through southern Ontario on Thursday, followed by another low-pressure system on Friday.
But don’t worry too much, the GTA is likely to miss out on the heavier stuff again.
Temperatures will drop quite a bit midweek, but they should bounce back to near-seasonal levels by the weekend.
Looking ahead, we’re in for a cold, wintry pattern through January, but February might bring some milder weather our way.