11 hours Ago By The Weather Network
After a brief taste of spring-like weather , winter will show it's still fully in charge as rounds of snow hit Ontario to end this week. Two systems will contribute to more accumulating snow, with some areas in line to pick up 10-15+ cm through Saturday. DON'T MISS: As tall as a giraffe: Snow total nears record levels in Canadian city While no excessive amounts are expected with the first system on Thursday, roads across southern Ontario will be slippery from this week's melting snowpack as a result of the milder temperatures.
Combined with falling snow, it could make for some dicey travel. Widespread winter weather travel advisories are in effect. The higher snow totals will come with the second system on Friday, with a slow evening commute expected for much of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Significant snowfall will spread across parts of northern Ontario first, including Thunder Bay where 20-25 cm is likely . Stay up-to-date on your local weather alerts , and be sure to check the latest highway conditions before heading out on the roads. Thursday: Winter travel advisories for snow across the GTA A weak low pressure system tracked in late-day Wednesday across southwestern Ontario, reaching the GTA with snow by early Thursday morning.
Those along the Lake Ontario shoreline will likely see rain or freezing drizzle at times, including Oakville, Hamilton, and downtown Toronto . Meanwhile, north of the QEW, wet snow is forecast through the first half of the day, with 3-5 cm possible in places like Brampton, Newmarket, Mississauga, Milton, and Waterloo. A winter weather travel advisory was issued first thing Thursday, warning of poor visibility in bands of heavy snow.
"Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions. If visibility is reduced while driving, slow down, watch for tail lights ahead and be prepared to stop," said Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in the advisory. RELATED: Great Lakes have the most ice in years amid prolonged cold spell The same system will continue to move east affecting the 401 to Kingston and Ottawa through the evening hours.
Friday and Saturday: Heavier snow totals with next bigger system Another blast of snow will bring up to 10 cm of snow to southern Ontario and the GTA on Friday. This system actually originated as a low over the Pacific Ocean, where it travelled into Yukon and is reorganizing as it prepares to dive south towards the Great Lakes. Before the system arrives in southern Ontario on Friday afternoon, it will leave a large swath of snow over parts of northwestern Ontario.
Between 20-25 cm of snow is forecast for the Thunder Bay area, which will impact travel within the city as well as along portions of the Trans-Canada Highway. Snowfall warnings are in effect. SEE ALSO: Canada stacked like a board game as series of lows makes wintry moves The snow will reach the GTA by late Friday afternoon, just in time to impact the evening commute.
Heavy snowfall rates of 2 cm/h could pick up during the afternoon, so it's suggested to leave work early to avoid heavy impacts on the road. While there is still some uncertainty about the exact track of this system, forecast models suggest a swath of 5-15 cm of snow is likely from the Huron shores into the GTA and across eastern Ontario. Between 10-15 cm of snow is possible for the Ottawa area .
We could also see some rain and mixing within the snow at times, especially for the London and Niagara region. Be sure to check back on Friday, Feb. 28, for The Weather Network's official March outlook.
WATCH: The snow is melting, but that brings up a safety issue Click here to view the video.
