Possible ‘Heatwave’ to End February in Ontario?
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NOTE: YOU CAN CLICK ON THE MAP TO OPEN A ZOOMABLE IMAGE. DATA FROM Weatherbell
Are you ready to feel the heat, Ontario? 🥵
Confidence is growing for another surge of warmer temperatures as we move into the final week of February. Despite many enjoying a taste of winter weather last week across Southern Ontario, it seems that was merely a brief pause in the mild winter we have been experiencing this season.
As of Tuesday, the shift towards milder temperatures is already noticeable, with parts of Southwestern Ontario experiencing mid to upper single-digit temperatures. This marks a significant change from just a few days ago when overnight lows plunged into the negative teens!
The rest of the week promises more of the same, with temperatures staying in the single digits, slightly above the seasonal average.
Additionally, we're anticipating some rain from late Wednesday into Thursday, with expected totals between 15-25mm. The heaviest rainfall is predicted along the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario shorelines as the center of the low-pressure system is forecasted to pass just south of the Great Lakes.
However, a brief cooldown is on the horizon for the weekend, leading to morning lows of -10 to -20°C throughout Central and Eastern Ontario on Saturday. Given the open state of the lakes, we might also see some lake effect snow in the usual snowbelt areas.
This cold snap will be short-lived, as temperatures above freezing are expected to return by Sunday, with even warmer air moving into the province for the last days of February.
While it's too early to specify exact temperatures, it appears many areas will experience temperatures 15 to 20°C above the norm.
Typically, daytime temperatures around this time of year hover around 0°C, suggesting that by mid-next week, temperatures could reach the mid to upper teens, depending on your location.
The warmest air is anticipated in the southwestern region, including Sarnia, Windsor, and Chatham. For instance, our app is currently forecasting a high of 16°C in Windsor next Tuesday.
While not a certainty, there are indications of a possible thunderstorm risk around the middle of next week. Though unlikely to be severe, it's certainly something we'll be monitoring.
If you were hoping for winter to linger and compensate for the mild season we've experienced so far, it seems that won't be the case.
