‘Winter Storm Day’ Forecast: Second Day of School Bus Cancellations Possible in Parts of Southern Ontario on Wednesday
/
NOTE: YOU CAN CLICK ON THE MAP TO OPEN A ZOOMABLE IMAGE
The winter storm impacting Southern Ontario on Tuesday is set to persist into Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. In most areas, the transition to rain has already happened or is expected shortly.
However, the forecast is different in the northern regions, including the Ottawa Valley and northern parts of Central Ontario. These areas are expected to continue seeing heavy snowfall tonight and into the early overnight hours.
Snowfall accumulations are expected to range from 15-25cm, with Sudbury and North Bay possibly receiving up to 30cm. A changeover to rain in some of these areas is anticipated just after midnight.
Given the projected snowfall amounts and their timing, it's highly probable that school buses will be cancelled across a broad region of Eastern and Central Ontario on Wednesday. This would mark the second consecutive 'snow day' for some students, as many areas already experienced cancellations on Tuesday due to the approaching storm.
In Eastern Ontario's rural school districts, including Pembroke, Renfrew, and Bancroft, there is a 90% chance of a 'snow day.' Similarly, Parry Sound, North Bay, and Sudbury also face a 90% likelihood of school cancellations.
The Ottawa school board area has a 75% chance of a 'snow day,' with a slightly lower probability reflecting uncertainty over whether the morning road conditions in urban areas will meet the threshold for bus cancellations. The Haliburton and Smiths Falls areas also have a 75% chance, as the transition to rain is expected to occur earlier, thereby limiting snowfall totals.
Chances of school bus cancellations diminish moving southwestward, where snow is expected to have already turned to rain by the evening. This leaves enough time for road crews to clear the streets. Areas like Muskoka, Northern Simcoe County, Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, and the Belleville/Kingston region have a slight to equal chance (25-50%) of a 'snow day.'
For the rest of Southern Ontario, the likelihood of experiencing a 'snow day' on Wednesday is very low, with a maximum probability of 5-10%.
Disclaimer: Instant Weather has zero authority when it comes to bus and school closures. It is completely up to the school boards, bus companies, local authorities, and parents to decide what is best for their children. This is our best guess based on our forecast.
