Snow is on the way in southern Ontario

Colder weather has moved into southern Ontario and snow could soon be on the way.

The warm, summer-like weather in early November — with temperatures in the 20s — made it feel like winter might never come.

But this week, a cold front moved across Mississauga, Brampton and much of southern Ontario. Temperatures dropped and wind gusts of up to 80 km/h blasted the area.

Parts of northwestern Ontario have already had snow — up to 20 centimetres was forecast on Sunday evening.

So far the GTA area hasn’t seen any of the white stuff but that is about to change.

While Environment and Climate Change Canada doesn’t have forecasts out this far, two other forecasters have predictions for snow in the next 10 to 12 days.

The Weather Network long-range forecast predicts wet snow with a high of 5 C on Tuesday, Nov. 26 in Mississauga, Brampton, Toronto and Durham Region. It appears Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville will miss this bit of snow.

Instant Weather Ontario suggests snow could come even sooner in areas around the Great Lakes.

“We’re closely monitoring the potential for significant snow squall activity between November 21st and 24th across Ontario’s snowbelt regions,” Instant Weather posted on X.

The U.S. Climate Prediction Center has forecast the potential for heavy snow across much of the Great Lakes region between Nov. 21 to 23. While the U.S. forecast doesn’t extend into Canada, it’s reasonable to assume similar potential exists for snowbelt areas in Ontario, Instant Weather notes.

Instant Weather said it is too soon for a more detailed forecast but traditional snowbelt areas are around Lake Huron, Georgian Bay, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The London, Ontario area is in the snowbelt but the GTA is not.

Southern Ontario residents might want to get ready for a long winter. The Farmer’s Almanac predicted a colder than normal, with above-average precipitation this year.

Lead photo: David Pohl