GTA Could Get First Real Snowfall This Week
Posted November 20, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Do you like roller coasters? Because whether you know it or not, you’re on one, courtesy of Mother Nature. Tuesday dawned damp but warm, with temperatures way above normal. Highs of 11C – a full five degrees above normal – greeted what wound up being a sunny and pleasant afternoon. That wasn’t close to the record of 19C set in 1985, but few people out enjoying the unusually mild double digits were complaining.
But those looking to put away the toques and long pants and grab the sunscreen shouldn’t be fooled – winter is out there, and it’s coming this week. Rain will return overnight and it could be heavy for your morning commute on Wednesday. By the time we reach Thursday, temperatures will have fallen to just -1C and we could get our first taste of real lasting snow.
It won’t be much – just two to five centimetres – but the first fall of Fall always creates chaos on the roads and Thursday morning could be an interesting one for those heading into work. Winds are likely to also put a bite in the air over the next few days, as the roller coaster weather takes a plunge.
Areas like Oakville, Milton, Burlington and Hamilton could get as much as 10 centimetres.
But just like any good ride, this one ends on an up note. It’s expected temperatures will recover above the freezing mark for the weekend, with highs of 4C by Sunday.
The good news for winter sport enthusiasts is that while the snow isn’t expected to last here, it should stay cold enough up north to remain and make more. That means there could be skiing for the first time in Barrie, where resorts like Horseshoe (top left) have been putting down layers of white for the past three days. They’ve confirmed they’ll be open Thursday.
It’s a far cry from last year, when an unusual months-long warm spell forced operators to lay off employees because it wasn’t cold enough to hit the slopes.
