Winter weather travel advisory for GTA: 5 cms of snow expected – NOW Toronto

Environment Canada has issued a winter weather travel advisory as Toronto and other parts of southern Ontario will be hit with heavy snowfall on Wednesday.

A low pressure system brought the snow early Wednesday morning and it’s expected to taper off this evening. The weather agency says there may be a significant impact on the afternoon rush hour traffic near and in urban areas.

“Slow down driving in slippery conditions. Watch for taillights ahead and maintain a safe following distance. If visibility is reduced while driving, turn on your lights and maintain a safe following distance,” the advisory read.

In addition, drivers and motorists should expect reduced visibility on the roads and adjust travel plans accordingly.

In the GTA, approximately five centimetres of snow is expected today, however more snow is expected in other regions such as York, Peel, Niagara, Hamilton and Caledon. 

Today, the city will receive periods of snow between two to five centimetres with a day time high of 1 C and a low of -2 C. 

On Thursday, the city will see a 40 per cent chance of flurries, with a high of zero and a low of -7 C. 

Friday will see a mix of sun and cloud with a 30 per cent chance of flurries and a high of zero and a low of -3. 

The cloudy conditions will follow into the weekend with a 40 per cent chance of flurries on Saturday, along with a high of -1 and a low of -3. Sunday is expected to be cloudy with a 30 per cent chance of showers, a high of 2 C and a low of 1 C.

WHAT TO EXPECT FOR YOUR DECEMBER FORECAST

On Wednesday, Environment Canada released its forecast for winter 2024–2025. Experts are predicting close or above normal temperatures across the north and east. Meanwhile, in the west, a warm start to the season is expected followed by normal to below normal temperatures.

“This year we are shifting into a La Niña winter, which often brings distinct weather conditions to Canada. La Niña happens when stronger-than-normal trade winds push warm surface water westward in the Pacific, allowing cooler, deeper water to rise near the South American coast. This results in cooler-than-average sea temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific,” the press release read.

According to the agency, the cooling effect of La Niña in Canada can cause below-seasonal temperatures, a more active storm track over the Great Lakes and Atlantic provinces, leading to increased snowfall, and drier atmosphere in the southern parts of Canada, due to reduced moisture flow.