GTA Could Be Hit By Blizzard-Like Conditions Over The Next 48 Hours

Our luck was bound to run out sometime.

And if the forecasters are right, that ‘sometime’ will be Tuesday afternoon.

Toronto is preparing to be hit by the first major snow storm of the winter, after avoiding the worst of the weather that’s been around us for weeks.

While we won’t be buried like Barrie, clobbered like cottage country or nuked like northern New York, this one promises to bring its own brand of hassle to the GTA.

A system out of Oklahoma is heading this way and depending on how it tracks and where you are, you could get anywhere from five to 20 centimetres of snow before it leaves for whiter pastures Wednesday.

This storm has all the major components for chaos – it packs strong winds, chilly temperatures and tons of frosted flakes.

It’s expected to start during or just after the afternoon rush Tuesday and make the morning commute the day after a miserable mess. Snow, blowing snow, and blizzard conditions – including whiteouts –  are all possible during the height of this howler, which will be accompanied by strong wind chills.

Winter storm watches have now been issued for a number of areas, including Burlington, Oakville, Niagara and Hamilton, along with areas to the west. Most of the GTA is expected to be added as it comes ever closer.

Environment Canada calls the storm “dangerous” and warns about the potential problems  that will accompany it for travellers. 

If the city itself is lucky, we’ll only get five centimetres or so. But those places with a winter bull’s eye on their backs – including Oakville – could see up to 20.

Drivers hate the prospect of the white knuckle commute that’s sure to come with even a little bit of snow. And no one’s looking forward to this major dump.

Still the city’s snow solons are eyeing the bright side, especially because the general betting is that we’ll only be hit with a minimal amount compared to other parts of the province.

“Well, considering everywhere else got practically seven feet, I think we’re lucky,” surmises spokesman Myles Curry.

But he admits the plows are ready for whatever arrives. “We have a large fleet that’s ready to tackle any storm that should hit,” he promises.
 
The city expects to spend about $3 million to clean up the storm. It sounds like a lot but it’s only a shovelful out of the $62.5 million annual budget.

All this comes as the city reels from another Arctic blast. Officials have declared a new Extreme Cold Weather Alert, designed to get the homeless off the streets before the weather turns deadly.

If you see anyone in need of assistance you can call the City of Toronto Street Helpline toll-free at 1-866-392-3777.

For more on this storm and for immediate weather updates, click here.

A Note To Our Viewers

CityNews knows weather is amongst the most important items on our newscast and the one thing surveys tell us over and over again you want to see in greater detail.

So we’ve spent a lot of time – and a lot of money – these past few weeks upgrading all our on air facilities to bring you the most comprehensive state-of-the-art TV weather coverage in Ontario.

Our new computers can literally show you a real-time storm in progress while predicting with amazing accuracy where it will strike next.

Our exclusive weather stations across the GTA will tell you more than what it’s like at the airport and downtown. We have new reporting stations in place from Oshawa to Newmarket and from Whitby to Mississauga to tell you exactly what’s up in your neighbourhood.

“I leave at 3:00 in the morning so I need to know which is open, which is closed, which is snowing, how much it’s snowing and where it’s snowing,” explains one viewer. 

From now on, you will.

Frank Ferragine will have your morning look on BT and meteorologist Michael Kuss will tell you what to expect next on CityNews at Six. Because being ‘predictable’ is their stock in trade. And so is getting it right.

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