Christmas Day weather forecast in southern Ontario

It will be a white Christmas for many southern Ontario residents this year.

Environment and Climate Change Canada defines a white Christmas as having two cm of snow or more on the ground at 7 a.m. on Dec. 25.

Based on data from 1997 to 2023, the Greater Toronto Area had a 36 per cent chance of seeing a white Christmas.

But the odds are looking good for the GTA this year after the big snow event on Monday.

“It’s a winter wonderland at the Ontario Storm Prediction Centre in North York!” Environment Canada Weather Ontario said on X.

The forecaster measured 8.5 cm of snow in North York from Monday’s event. The snow will likely stay around as long as temperatures stay at freezing or below.

A high of zero was forecast for Tuesday for Mississauga, Brampton, Toronto, Burlington and Oakville.

Hamilton has a high of 4 C forecast for Tuesday. Niagara Falls could reach 2 C. Durham Region is around 1 C.

There is a risk of freezing drizzle overnight and lows down to -4 C. It could feel like -7 C with the windchill on Christmas Eve.

A high of -1 C is forecast for Christmas Day in Mississauga, Brampton, Toronto, Burlington, Oakville and Durham Region. With the windchill it could feel near -7 C.

The low will dip down to -4 C in the evening.

It is expected to be mainly cloudy with a risk of freezing drizzle in the morning.

Warmer highs of 1 C are expected in the Niagara area and 0 C in Hamilton.

Enjoy the snow while it lasts, highs of 8 C are expected on the weekend.

Lead photo: Oleksandr P