KIDWCKED
12-20-2012, 11:38 PM
From The Weather Network
Are you ready for winter?
Staff writers
December 20, 2012 — Rain, snow and strong winds. A powerful storm pushing in from the U.S. is set to bring messy conditions to much of Ontario through Saturday.
The Nickel Belt and the Ottawa area will be the worst hit Thursday night into Friday morning.
Motorists across Ontario will be testing their winter driving skills one again, thanks to a large system that could bring snow and rain to southern Ontario.
Sault Ste. Marie and the Nickel Belt are already in the thick of the storm as it moves in from the United States, with blowing snow and poor visibility plaguing the region.
As it passes through the region Thursday night into Quebec, areas around Ottawa and Montreal could get as much as 30 cm, with similar amounts from Muskoka to Brockville.
Further south, in the GTA and southwestern Ontario, rain is more likely Thursday night, but by Friday, up to five centimetres could fall across the region.
Travellers ought to keep an eye on the forecast, and prepare to drive accordingly.
"Another thing to note is that this is a busy travel time with last minute preparations for the Christmas holidays," says Dayna Vettese, a Meteorologist with the Weather Network.
In the GTA and southwestern Ontario, rainfall is also likely.
"Allow extra time if you're making a trip home or planning to visit family or friends for the holidays."
To make matters worse, the wind is expected to pick up Friday.
"Winds will begin to change to a northwest direction Friday afternoon with gusts up to 90 km/h possible," Weather Network meteorologist Gerald Cheng says. "So the new wind direction combined with colder air will help in the formation of snow squalls off Georgian Bay and Lake Huron."
Are you ready for winter?
Staff writers
December 20, 2012 — Rain, snow and strong winds. A powerful storm pushing in from the U.S. is set to bring messy conditions to much of Ontario through Saturday.
The Nickel Belt and the Ottawa area will be the worst hit Thursday night into Friday morning.
Motorists across Ontario will be testing their winter driving skills one again, thanks to a large system that could bring snow and rain to southern Ontario.
Sault Ste. Marie and the Nickel Belt are already in the thick of the storm as it moves in from the United States, with blowing snow and poor visibility plaguing the region.
As it passes through the region Thursday night into Quebec, areas around Ottawa and Montreal could get as much as 30 cm, with similar amounts from Muskoka to Brockville.
Further south, in the GTA and southwestern Ontario, rain is more likely Thursday night, but by Friday, up to five centimetres could fall across the region.
Travellers ought to keep an eye on the forecast, and prepare to drive accordingly.
"Another thing to note is that this is a busy travel time with last minute preparations for the Christmas holidays," says Dayna Vettese, a Meteorologist with the Weather Network.
In the GTA and southwestern Ontario, rainfall is also likely.
"Allow extra time if you're making a trip home or planning to visit family or friends for the holidays."
To make matters worse, the wind is expected to pick up Friday.
"Winds will begin to change to a northwest direction Friday afternoon with gusts up to 90 km/h possible," Weather Network meteorologist Gerald Cheng says. "So the new wind direction combined with colder air will help in the formation of snow squalls off Georgian Bay and Lake Huron."