‘Snow Day’ Forecast: April Snowstorm Likely to Lead to School Bus Cancellations in Eastern & Central Ontario on Thursday
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A complex weather system has been impacting both Southern and Northern Ontario throughout Wednesday. As the day progressed, temperatures across the region have steadily decreased, leading to the transition of heavy rain into heavy, wet snow by the afternoon and evening.
This snowfall is anticipated to persist into the overnight hours and early Thursday morning. The most significant accumulations are expected across Eastern Ontario, stretching towards the Ottawa Valley, where snowfall totals may surpass 20cm.
As the snow continues into the night, temperatures will further decline below the freezing point. This will cause any earlier rain and melted snow to freeze, resulting in icy road conditions by Thursday morning. Such conditions are likely to necessitate school bus cancellations across a broad area of Eastern Ontario.
Areas most prone to experiencing a ‘snow day’ on Thursday encompass rural school boards in the Ottawa Valley, spanning northern Tri-Board and extending into Northeastern Ontario, including North Bay and Sudbury. These regions are sitting at a 90% chance of school bus cancellations.
Surrounding areas, like the central parts of Tri-Board and Parry Sound, have a 75% chance of cancellations. Further south, the probability evens out for regions such as Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Muskoka. Although it’s uncertain how much snow these areas will receive, the potential for icy road conditions might lead to cancellations.
For regions north and west of the GTA, including Simcoe and Dufferin County, there exists a minor possibility of school bus cancellations, though the likelihood remains low. The rest of Southern Ontario has a less than 10% chance of experiencing a snow day.
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.
