Pre-Christmas squalls to dump up to 50 cm of snow to parts of southern Ontario

As southern Ontario heads into the final weekend before Christmas, the region is preparing for the coldest air of the season, with some areas expected to receive up to 50 cm of snow.

Lake effect snow squalls are set to begin late Dec. 20 along the southern shoreline of Lake Huron, persisting through much of Saturday.

The heaviest snowfall is anticipated between Sarnia and Strathroy, where some areas may get up to 50 cm.

According to instantweatherinc.com, these snow squalls will continue through the night into early Saturday, creating dangerous travel conditions due to rapidly accumulating snow and near-zero visibility. There’s also a chance the squalls will extend further inland, possibly reaching areas northeast of Chatham along the Lake Erie shoreline.

Meanwhile, in other parts of southern Ontario including Mississauga, Brampton, Halton and Durham regions, little to no snow is expected from these lake effect squalls. However, light snow may still fall in some areas, particularly in Durham Region, which could see light accumulations of 2 to 5 cm by early Saturday morning. The Niagara Region may also experience light snow, with 2 to 5 cm expected from lingering precipitation.

By late Saturday morning, the squalls will weaken, becoming more spread out and less organized. Snow intensity will decrease, with the snow retreating toward the shoreline by Saturday evening and tapering off overnight into early Sunday morning.

Further north in southern Ontario, areas like Owen Sound, Meaford and Collingwood also anticipate seeing 2 to 5 cm of snow, with localized amounts possibly reaching up to 10 cm if the snow activity strengthens.

For those hoping for a White Christmas, the snowfall in the Lake Huron region, along with colder temperatures expected through Christmas Eve, may help ensure a snowy holiday, especially in areas further north.

Photo courtesy of Instant Weather