LAST UPDATE: 6:12 AM, February 23 2023
NEXT UPDATE: 10:00 AM, February 23 2023
*** THIS STORM CENTRE IS NOW ARCHIVED AND WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATED. ***
Discussion
A Colorado low will bring a mixed bag of precipitation to Southern Ontario, beginning Wednesday morning and moving out of the region on Thursday.
Snow will move into Southwestern Ontario on Wednesday morning and push eastward across the region. Behind the snow, freezing rain and ice pellets will move in. We are expecting the heaviest freezing rain in Southwestern Ontario, where the amount of freezing rain can be classified as an ice storm.
Conditions will severely deteriorate across Southwestern Ontario, Midwestern Ontario, and the GTA by the evening commute due to freezing rain, ice pellets and snow. Road conditions will become very poor. We recommend avoiding travel if possible. Some areas in Extreme Southwestern Ontario may see a transition to rain if temperatures warm up enough.
For this particular storm, it is important to note that any change in temperature, even one degree, can severely change impacts and precipitation type. These storms typically require us learning what is happening on the ground, as forecasting them is rather difficult.
Strong wind gusts are expected for the duration of this storm. Due to the freezing rain and ice pellets, the strong wind gusts can cause power outages, cause branches to snap, and cause damage. It does not take much wind to cause damage when combined with ice.
For Central and Eastern Ontario, this will be a storm with mainly snow. Snow is expected to move in late Wednesday into Thursday before moving out of the area late Thursday. Blowing and drifting snow is expected as well due to the strong wind gusts.
Freezing Rain Outlook
The bulk of the freezing rain is expected over Sarnia, London and St. Thomas. The further east you go, the less freezing rain is expected.
Area Breakdown
14 to 18 mm: Sarnia, Wallaceburg, Dresden, Rodney, London and St. Thomas
10 to 14 mm: Windsor, Leamington, Chatham, Woodstock, Simcoe, Brantford, Hamilton, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls
6 to 10 mm: Seaforth, Stratford and Kitchener
2 to 6 mm: Goderich, Listowel and Oakville
Trace to 2 mm: Kincardine, Hanover, Shelburne, Orangeville and Toronto
Snowfall Outlook
The largest snowfall amounts are expected through Central and Eastern Ontario. Snowfall amounts will be lesser in Southwestern Ontario due to the amount of freezing rain expected. Snowfall amounts across the region may be reduced by ice pellets mixing in.
Area Breakdown
20 to 25 cm: Brockville, Bancroft, Cornwall and Ottawa
15 to 20 cm: Kincardine, Tobermory, Owen Sound, Orangeville, Collingwood, Barrie, Peterborough, Bracebridge, Parry Sound and Huntsville
10 to 15 cm: Goderich, Listowel, Kitchener, Oakville, Toronto, Oshawa, Cobourg, Belleville and Kingston
5 to 10 cm: Stratford, Woodstock, Brantford, Hamilton and St. Catharines
Trace to 5 cm: Windsor, Leamington, Chatham, Sarnia, London, St. Thomas, Simcoe, Cayuga and Welland
Winter Storm Outlook
The highest impacts are expected in Southwestern Ontario due to the prolonged period of freezing rain. These areas have been placed under the High category and will experience strong wind gusts, likely leading to power outages and damage to trees and branches.
Further east, we have placed these areas under the Moderate category. Heavy snow is expected to be mixed with ice pellets, along with strong wind gusts. Poor road conditions are expected due to blowing snow and poor visibility.
Area Breakdown
High: Windsor, Leamington, Chatham, Sarnia, London, St. Thomas, Woodstock, Simcoe, Hamilton and St. Catharines
Moderate: Goderich, Stratford, Kitchener, Kincardine, Tobermory, Owen Sound, Oakville, Toronto, Barrie, Oshawa, Peterborough, Belleville, Kingston, Brockville, Cornwall, Ottawa, Bancroft, Huntsville and Parry Sound
School Bus Cancellations
Closings and Cancellations
Road Closures
No data has been posted.