Icy Mix, Flash Freeze and Strong Winds Could Bring Travel Disruptions to Ontario on Thursday

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Thursday, March 6, 2025: Winter Weather Hazards For Parts of Ontario

Environment Canada is forecasting a mix of snow, strong winds, and rapidly dropping temperatures for Thursday. Rain will transition to snow across much of the province, with accumulations of 5 to 10 cm expected in several areas. Strong northwest winds could reach up to 80 km/h, leading to widespread blowing snow and dangerous travel conditions, especially southeast of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. Additionally, a sharp temperature drop will cause any standing water or wet surfaces to freeze quickly, creating hazardous icy conditions. Eastern Ontario and the Greater Golden Horseshoe will see a heightened risk of ice as rain transitions to freezing conditions throughout the day. Travelers should prepare for difficult driving conditions, reduced visibility, and potential road closures. Stay updated on this evolving system as details continue to develop.

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Location: Portions of central Ontario and southern portions of northeastern Ontario

  • Hazard(s): Snow, Blowing Snow, and Ice

  • Timing: Thursday

  • Impact(s): Difficult travel conditions, reduced visibility, and possible road closures.

  • Confidence: High

  • Impact Level: Moderate

Rain will transition to snow early Thursday morning, with snowfall accumulations of 5 to 10 cm expected. Alongside this snowfall, gusty northwest winds will lead to blowing snow in exposed areas. A sharp temperature drop will cause any standing water or wet surfaces to freeze quickly, creating hazardous icy conditions Thursday morning.

Location: Areas southeast of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay

  • Hazard(s): Snow, Blowing Snow, Wind, and Ice

  • Timing: Thursday

  • Impact(s): Difficult travel conditions, reduced visibility, possible road closures, and potential power outages.

  • Confidence: Moderate

  • Impact Level: High

Rain will transition to snow overnight or early Thursday morning, with 5 to 10 cm of accumulation possible. Strong northwest winds up to 80 km/h are expected, causing widespread blowing snow and dangerous whiteout conditions. The sharp temperature drop will also lead to ice formation as wet surfaces quickly freeze Thursday morning.

Location: Portions of eastern Ontario and the Greater Golden Horseshoe

  • Hazard(s): Ice

  • Timing: Thursday

  • Impact(s): Difficult travel conditions due to rapid freezing and ice buildup.

  • Confidence: Moderate

  • Impact Level: Moderate

    Rain will transition to snow Thursday morning or afternoon, accompanied by a sharp drop in temperature. Any standing water or wet surfaces are expected to freeze quickly throughout the day, leading to slick and icy conditions on roads and sidewalks.

Location: Portions of southwestern Ontario and areas northeast of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario

  • Hazard(s): Snow, blowing snow, wind, and ice

  • Timing: Thursday

  • Impact(s): Difficult travel conditions, reduced visibility, and possible road closures. Possible power outages.

  • Confidence: Moderate

  • Impact Level: Moderate

Rain will transition to snow overnight or early Thursday morning, with snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 cm expected. Strong west or southwest winds, potentially reaching 80 km/h, may cause blowing snow in exposed areas, further reducing visibility. A sharp temperature drop will also lead to icy conditions as standing water or wet surfaces freeze rapidly Thursday morning. Travelers should prepare for hazardous road conditions and potential disruptions.

Friday, March 7, 2025: Snow Squalls & Blowing Snow

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Location: Southeast of Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Georgian Bay

  • Hazard(s): Snow and blowing snow

  • Timing: Beginning Thursday evening and continuing through Friday

  • Impact(s): Possible difficult travel conditions

  • Confidence: Moderate

  • Impact: Moderate

Lake effect snow is expected to develop Thursday night and persist through Friday, bringing total snowfall amounts of 5 to 10 cm. Gusty winds may lead to areas of blowing snow, particularly in exposed locations, reducing visibility and making travel hazardous. Drivers should prepare for changing road conditions and potential delays.

Final Thoughts:

As this storm system moves through, travel across parts of Ontario will become increasingly difficult on Thursday due to a combination of snow, blowing snow, strong winds, and icy conditions. The transition from rain to snow, along with a sharp temperature drop, will create hazardous roads as wet surfaces quickly freeze. Power outages are also a concern in areas experiencing stronger winds, particularly near Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

Lake effect snow will add to the challenges on Friday, especially southeast of Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Georgian Bay, where accumulating snowfall and blowing snow could lead to reduced visibility and treacherous driving conditions. While uncertainty remains regarding exact snowfall totals, the potential for rapid changes in weather conditions warrants extra caution.

If you must travel, plan ahead, check road conditions frequently, and be prepared for sudden deteriorations. Stay tuned for updates as this system develops.

Be safe, folks!

Disclaimer: These forecasts are issued by Environment Canada and typically published via their Twitter/X accounts. We receive these forecast via a daily email and often publish them for our communities to see.