15 cm of snow and frigid temperatures moving into southern Ontario this week

If you were hoping for a winter wonderland, it looks like a blast of snow is heading to southern Ontario earlier this week, bringing with it a bit of sunshine, warmer daytime temperatures and freezing evenings.

As of today (Dec. 22) Residents will wake up to a mix of sunshine and cloudy periods throughout the day. The morning will begin frigid, with wind chills feeling like -25 C.

Wind speeds will pick up to 15 km/h, easing by the afternoon. Daytime highs will remain well below freezing, reaching -9 C and are expected to dip to -12 C as the day progresses. Skies will turn cloudy by evening, with a 40 per cent chance of flurries.

Monday kicks off with mainly cloudy skies, as light snow moves in during the morning and wraps up in the afternoon, leaving behind about 2 cm of snow.

There’s also 40 per cent chance of flurries later in the afternoon. Winds will stay light, up to 15 km/h, but the wind chill will make it feel like -16 C. The daytime high will hover around zero.

By night, snow picks up again, with 5 cm expected to accumulate, while temperatures will dip to -3 C, bringing a wind chill of -7 C.

In addition, Environment Canada predicts hazardous travel conditions for parts of southern Ontario, including Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Milton, Burlington, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa.

Snow-covered roads and reduced visibility will create difficult driving conditions throughout the day for both drivers and commuters and individuals are advised to exercise caution.

For those preparing for Christmas Eve celebrations on Tuesday, the day will start with a mix of sun and clouds. There’s a 40 per cent chance of flurries, with a high of zero. By evening, more clouds will roll in, bringing a 30 per cent chance of flurries as temperatures dip to -5 C—making it the coldest night out of the week!

On Wednesday (Christmas Day), the big question is: Will there be snow to add to the magic of the season, making for some outdoor fun like building snowmen, creating snow angels or having a playful snowball fight? While that’s the holiday dream for many, meteorologists predict that fresh snow is unlikely.

However, there may be remnants of snow left over from earlier in the week, still giving a hint of winter charm.

Instead, the weather will be a mix of sun and cloud, with a daytime high of zero. Temperatures will fall to -3 C by the evening.

For those heading outdoors for Boxing Day deals or a bit of fresh air, be ready for cloudy skies and a high of 2 C. Bundle up for your shopping adventures as temperatures will stay chilly overnight, dipping to zero degrees Celsius.

Cloudy skies will persist into Friday, bringing slightly warmer temperatures with a high of 5 C. Evening lows will drop but remain just above freezing, hovering around 3 C

Saturday brings another round of predominantly cloudy skies with a 40 per cent chance of showers. Daytime highs will reach 6 C, making it a mild yet wet end to the week. Temperatures will cool off to 2 C overnight.