Ontario’s final chance at a white Christmas rests on this clipper

Toronto: A clipper is rolling into southern Ontario on Monday, and it might just be the area’s last hope for a white Christmas this year.

Weather experts are keeping an eye on this Alberta clipper as it heads toward the Great Lakes. It’s expected to bring some snow to places where the ground is cold enough for it to stick.

While the traditional snowbelts have seen their fair share of snow, many folks in the Greater Toronto Area and southwestern Ontario have been left wanting this season.

But first, we have to deal with some seriously cold temps before the clipper arrives. Saturday night, Toronto could see temperatures drop to around -18°C, the coldest it’s been since February.

And it’s going to be even chillier up in cottage country, where temps might dip into the mid-20s below zero. The wind will make it feel even worse, with wind chills hitting the minus-20s to minus-30s.

Sunday will stay chilly, too, with many areas in the GTA struggling to get out of the minus double digits for daytime highs.

As for the clipper, it’s expected to slide into the Great Lakes from the west, bringing enough moisture to create widespread snowfall across southern Ontario.

Snow should start falling by Monday afternoon, spreading throughout the region. It’ll keep going into the evening before tapering off from west to east.

Most places can expect about 5-10 cm of snow, with some areas in central Ontario possibly seeing more than 10 cm. So, be prepared for some slick roads on Monday, especially during the evening commute.

Now, what does this mean for Christmas morning? An ‘official’ white Christmas is when there’s at least 2 cm of snow on the ground at 7:00 a.m. on Christmas Day.

With little sunshine on Christmas Eve and temperatures staying below freezing, that snowpack should hold up from the GTA northward as we head into the big day on Wednesday. Fingers crossed for a snowy Christmas!