⚠️ Significant Winter Storm Risk For Ontario This Weekend With Three Days of Freezing Rain Possible 🚨
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It may say spring on the calendar but Ontario could get a rude reminder that winter is not done with us quite yet! ❄️🥶 Environment Canada meteorologists are forecasting the potential for a significant winter storm this weekend that could bringing several days of freezing rain, causing icy roads, tree damage, and possible power outages across much of Southern Ontario.
*To clarify, “Southern” Ontario includes Southwestern, Central, Golden Horseshoe and Eastern regions. From many questions we’ve received, it seems that often ‘Southern Ontario’ is mistaken for ‘Southwestern Ontario’.
Meanwhile, lake effect snow will create hazardous travel conditions midweek, and this potentially significant winter storm could extend the icy mess into Sunday. Confidence remains low on exact snowfall amounts and ice accumulation, but this system looks like could pack a punch—stay prepared and watch for updates!
📅 Tuesday, March 25, 2025
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📍 Location: Areas east of Lake Huron & Georgian Bay
🌨️ Hazard(s): Snow
📍 Location: Areas east of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay
⏳ Timing: Tuesday
⚠️ Impact(s): Hazardous travel conditions, reduced visibility
Confidence: Moderate
Impact: Moderate
🔹 Lake effect snow will develop early Tuesday morning with local snowfall amounts of 5 to 15 cm possible.
📅 Wednesday, March 26, 2025
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📍 Location: Areas east of Lake Huron
🌨️ Hazard(s): Snow
📍 Location: Areas east of Lake Huron
⏳ Timing: Wednesday morning
⚠️ Impact(s): Hazardous travel conditions & Reduced visibility
Confidence: Low
Impact Level: Moderate
🔹 The lake effect snow will drift southward Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, with local snowfall amounts of 5 to 15 cm possible. Snow is expected to ease near midday.
⚠️ Friday, March 28, 2025
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📍 Location: Portions of southwestern Ontario and the Greater Golden Horseshoe
🧊 Hazard(s): Ice
📍 Location: Portions of southwestern Ontario and the Greater Golden Horseshoe
⏳ Timing: Friday evening
⚠️ Impact(s): Icy surfaces such as roads and walkways
Confidence: Moderate
Impact Level: High
🔹 A prolonged freezing rain event is expected to begin Friday evening, with multiple waves of freezing rain. There is still uncertainty regarding the timing and exact location of the rain/freezing rain boundary. The freezing rain is expected to continue into the weekend for parts of southern, central, and eastern Ontario.
📍 Location: Northeastern, central, and eastern Ontario, as well as eastern portions of the Greater Golden Horseshoe
🌨️ Hazard(s): Snow
📍 Location: Northeastern, central, and eastern Ontario, as well as eastern portions of the Greater Golden Horseshoe
⏳ Timing: Friday evening
⚠️ Impact(s): Hazardous travel conditions & snow-covered and slippery roads/walkways
Confidence: Low
Impact Level: Moderate
🔹 Snow will push into the region Friday evening before clearing late Friday night or early Saturday morning. Snowfall amounts remain uncertain.
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📍 Location: Northwestern Ontario and western portions of the North Shore of Lake Superior
🌨️ Hazard(s): Snow
📍 Location: Northwestern Ontario and western portions of the North Shore of Lake Superior
⏳ Timing: Friday
⚠️ Impact(s): Hazardous travel conditions & snow-covered and slippery roads/walkways
Confidence: Low
Impact Level: Moderate
🔹 Heavy snowfall is expected Friday morning, persisting through the day before easing Friday evening. The heaviest snowfall areas remain uncertain.
⚠️ Saturday, March 29, 2025
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📍 Location: Most of southern Ontario
⏳ Timing: Saturday
🧊 Hazard(s): Ice
📍 Location: Most of southern Ontario
⏳ Timing: Saturday
⚠️ Impact(s):
⚠️ Icy roads and walkways
🌳 Broken tree branches from ice build-up
🔌 Possible utility outages
Confidence: Too low in the extended range to assign a weather threat level
Impact Level: Potentially moderate or greater
🔹 A significant winter storm could bring an extended period of freezing rain, potentially leading to hazardous travel, minor tree damage, and power outages. Stay tuned for updates!
⚠️ Sunday, March 30, 2025
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📍 Location: Most of southern Ontario
🧊 Hazard(s): Ice
📍 Location: Most of southern Ontario
⏳ Timing: Sunday
⚠️ Impact(s):
⚠️ Icy roads and walkways
🌳 Broken tree branches from ice build-up
🔌 Possible utility outages
Confidence: Too low in the extended range to assign a weather threat level
Impact Level: Potentially moderate or greater
🔹 A prolonged period of freezing rain is possible. Hazardous travel, tree damage, and power outages could occur. Stay alert for future updates!
Final Thoughts:
A messy mix of snow and freezing rain is set to impact Ontario from Friday through the weekend, bringing travel hazards, icy conditions, and possible power outages. Uncertainty remains in the details but this system has the potential to cause significant impacts—stay tuned for updates!
TLDR; Be prepared for icy conditions, charge your devices, and take caution if you must travel. 🚗💨
Be safe, folks!
Disclaimer: These forecasts are issued by Environment Canada and typically published via their Twitter/X accounts. We receive these forecast via a daily email and often publish them to help inform our communities.
