Major winter storm expected to hit Toronto – Will we get a white Christmas?

Special Weather Statement issued for GTA by Environment and Climate Change Canada

TORONTO, Dec. 21, 2022 – A Special Weather Statement issued for GTA by Environment and Climate Change Canada warns of a major winter storm headed to the Toronto area Thursday and well into Friday. With the storm, southern Ontario can expect heavy rain and strong winds, followed by the possibility of icy and then blizzard-like conditions come late Friday as the temperature plummets. So, one can only conclude that we may have a white Christmas here after all… if the temperature drops as they say it is going to.

ECCC says precipitation may begin as rain or snow late Thursday before transitioning to rain in many areas Thursday night. With temperatures are expected to plummet on Friday leading to a potential flash freeze is possible for locations that receive rainfall. The rapidly falling temperatures will be accompanied by strong to potentially damaging winds along with snow that may be heavy at times.

Blizzard conditions are possible late Friday in southern Ontario into the weekend for areas downwind of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, while Winter Storm Warnings have been issued for ski country.

A multi-day lake effect snow event is expected into the weekend in the wake of the system for locations east of the Great Lakes.

While there is high confidence in a high impact winter storm, the details regarding wind speeds, precipitation types and amounts remain uncertain at this time. Please monitor your local forecast and the latest alerts for your area.

Consider altering plans through the holiday weekend as travel conditions may become dangerous. Extensive utility outages are possible. Temperatures Friday night into the weekend will likely be the coldest of the season to date.

Public Safety Canada encourages everyone to make an emergency plan and get an emergency kit with drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kit and a flashlight. For information on emergency plans and kits go to http://www.getprepared.gc.ca.

Looking on the brighter side, there is a reasonable possibility of a many of a GTA white Christmas, ski country will see another good dump of snow, and it will not be as cold as it is in Alberta right now with some areas reporting -35 degree temperatures today or -46 degrees celsius with the windchill.

Ontario residents are asked to continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.

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