2024 starts with the coldest weather of the season in southern Ontario

As 2023 wraps up, Mother Nature will bid a chilly farewell to the year with snow, rain, and cold temperatures.

Last week, residents in Mississauga, Brampton, Halton, Hamilton, and surrounding areas had a snow-free Christmas, with temperatures ranging from a high of 8 C to a low of -7 C. Several areas within the region experienced up to five days of foggy conditions as per Environment Canada’s weather advisories.

According to Instant Weather Inc, a cooling trend will begin with the potential of snow accumulation as an Alberta Clipper moves across the region tonight.  Parts of southwestern Ontario and the Golden Horseshoe, could see between 2-4 centimetres of snow.

As of today (Dec. 31) it will be mainly cloudy with foggy patches. Temperatures will stay at 1 C for most of the day, before slipping to a cool -4 C by the evening with scattered flurries. Meteorologists predict that the snowfall will intensify with approximately 1-2 centimetres per hour.

Mississauga, Brampton, Halton, and Hamilton may see 1-2 centimetres of snow with a maximum accumulation of 7 centimetres. Durham region, if lucky, will receive no snow at all with a potential max of 4 centimetres.

If you’re planning to head out to a New Year’s Eve celebration, travel might take longer with reduced visibility and slushy roads. A good idea might be to bundle up as the wind chill is expected to reach -9 C.

The snow will stop around sunrise on Monday—New Year’s Day. It will be mostly sunny with a daytime high of -1 C. Cloudy periods will begin closer to the evening, as temperatures drop to -3 C with a 40 per cent chance of flurries.

The Weather Network predicts a mainly sunny day on Tuesday with a high of 3 C—still a cool day but also the warmest compared to the whole week. By the evening, temperatures will shift below -2 C with wind speeds picking up southwest to 24 km/h. Cloudy skies will also return with a 40 per cent chance of flurries.

Wednesday is anticipated  to be mostly cloudy, with temperatures holding steady at 1 C during the day before plummeting to a frigid -10 C, marking the coldest day of the week. There’s also a 40 per cent chance of widespread flurries throughout the day.

Environment Canada forecasts a sunny Thursday, offering a clear sky. Yet, appearances can be deceiving, with daytime temperatures hovering at -5 C and dropping even lower in the evening. Cloudy periods return, along with a second night of frigid temperatures dipping to -10 C.

Meteorologists call for  a mix of sun and clouds on Friday, with daytime temperatures not exceeding 1 C. Cloudy skies will dominate the night, with temperatures dropping as low as -6 C.

With Saturday on the horizon, though the day will be predominantly cloudy there is no snowfall expected. Temperatures will rise to a high of -1 C  during the day while falling to -3 C by the evening.