Winter is about to make its first appearance in southern Ontario. A deep upper-level trough is set to drag cold northern air across Eastern Canada by the end of the week, bringing the coldest burst of the season so far — and the region’s first snowfall.
Toronto’s best chance of dipping to freezing will come on Thursday night, 12 November, with the overnight low forecast at 0°C and wind chill making it feel like minus 3°C. Lows near freezing are also expected on Friday and Saturday, and forecasters say the city could see its first flurries and its first freezing-mark temperature of the season on the same day.
How much snow, and where
A low-pressure system from Illinois brought rain to southern Ontario on Wednesday. As it retreats through Thursday, cold air will be pulled south, fuelling lake-effect flurries south of the Great Lakes on Friday morning. Most areas will see less than 3 cm, but close to 5 cm is possible near Sarnia-Lambton counties and near Collingwood.
The heaviest totals are expected in Lambton County, where 10 to 15 cm could fall through Saturday — although a rain-snow mix will cause much of it to melt quickly. The snowbelt off Georgian Bay’s southern shore could see 5 to 10 cm, while areas north of Toronto, including Barrie, Newmarket, Orangeville and Owen Sound, are also in line for flurries. Environment and Climate Change Canada puts the chance of rain showers or flurries at about 30 per cent on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
A late first freeze for Toronto
Toronto has not yet had its first freezing day this season, and the timing is notable: the latest first freezing day on record for the city was 13 November 2022. Daytime highs across southern Ontario on Friday are forecast to stay in the single digits, with wind chills making it feel colder still.
Forecasters stress that totals remain uncertain, with frequent transitions between rain and snow during the day, and the forecast may change as the week goes on. Residents are advised to check Environment Canada or The Weather Network before heading out on Thursday and Friday — and to dig out the winter coats, because the mild start to November is officially over.
The cold snap arrives just as Canadians marked Remembrance Day in Ottawa — thousands stood under grey skies at the National War Memorial — and while Montreal hockey fans watched the Wild edge the Canadiens in overtime, winter was already on its way.
Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.