These areas may see 40 cm of snow in Ontario

As 2025 begins, with the holidays behind us and many heading back to work, winter is making its presence known with lake-effect snow squalls returning to parts of Ontario this week.

LATEST UPDATES:
60 cm of snow expected by the end of the week in parts of Ontario

Regions near Georgian Bay are bracing for heavy snowfall starting Thursday morning, with Environment Canada issuing snow squall watches for areas including Barrie, Collingwood and Hillsdale. Local accumulations of 20 to 30 centimetres are expected by Thursday evening, along with gusting northwest winds up to 60 km/h, which could reduce visibility in blowing snow.

While northern parts of the 401 corridor are expected to see significant snowfall, southern Ontario cities such as Mississauga, Brampton, Halton, Hamilton, Durham, and Niagara are not expected to be impacted—though conditions could change closer to the event.

“Snow squalls cause weather conditions to vary considerably; changes from clear skies to heavy snow within just a few kilometres are common,” Environment Canada said in its alert, urging residents to postpone non-essential travel until conditions improve.

According to the Weather Network, the snow squalls are part of a larger weather system fueled by polar air sweeping in from the Prairies. A low-pressure system earlier this week brought a mix of rain and wet snow to southern Ontario, with areas north of Toronto seeing minor accumulations.

The squalls are forecast to persist into the weekend for regions around Georgian Bay, with snow totals exceeding 40 centimetres in some areas. Travel conditions along key routes, including Highway 400, are expected to be challenging.

The weather agency recommends monitoring local forecasts and road conditions via the Ministry of Transportation’s 511 service.