Special weather statement ends for Toronto, but ‘intense’ squalls likely in surrounding regions
Posted November 26, 2025 5:18 am.
Last Updated November 27, 2025 11:09 pm.
A special weather statement for Toronto and a large swath of the Greater Toronto Area ended on Thursday night, but remains in place for Burlington and sections north of the city where intense squalls could make for a messy morning drive.
CityNews meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai says up to three distinct snow squall bands could develop over parts of southern Ontario, with snow intensifying as temperatures drop into the early morning hours.
“Things are going to get pretty intense here tonight for parts of the GTA,” she said.
One of those bands was already shifting from the Kitchener area, towards Burlington and Oakville on Thursday night, with sections of the QEW affected.
Toronto could see still occasional brief bursts of heavy snow, but Ramsahai notes the city will get off easy compared to areas like Goderich and Barrie.
The Goderich area could get walloped by 40-70 cm overnight, with snow falling at a furious rate of five to 10 cm/hr.
Things won’t be much better in Barrie, with projections of 30 to 60 cm possible.
The system is expected to result in road and school closures in parts of the province.
Heading into the weekend, Ramsahai notes that Toronto could see up to five cm of snow, before temperatures rise giving way to rain.
Ontario’s bigger weather story: multi-day snow squalls
While Toronto dodges the heaviest snow, large swaths of southern and northern Ontario are preparing for a multi-day snow squall outbreak that started late Wednesday and is stretching into the weekend.
Hydro One says local road conditions are delaying some of its restoration efforts as it reports several thousand customers are without power.
A winter storm warning is in place for a stretch of the province from Wawa to Timmins, and as far north as Moosonee, as Environment Canada calls for up to 60 centimetres of snow.
Major snowfall has already blanketed the region and shut down highways 655 and 631.
Numerous weather warnings reman in effect across the GTHA, including Mississauga, Brampton, Burlington, Oakville, Vaughan, Markham and Richmond Hill (special weather statement), with Hamilton under a snow squall warning.
Barrie, Caledon, Guelph, Halton Hills, Milton, Kitchener and Waterloo, among others, are also under a snow squall warning.
“Lake effect snow bands off Lake Huron are expected to develop today and may affect areas quite far inland at times. The bands may affect portions of the Hamilton area late in the day and tonight,” Canada’s weather agency says.
Roads in these regions may become treacherous with little warning. Visibility could drop to near zero within minutes during the strongest bursts.
On Friday, strong winds turn to the northwest, pushing intense snow squalls back to the traditional snow belt regions like Barrie, but will likely extend down into York and Durham with the potential for 10-15 cm or more.
Flurries will continue in Toronto on Friday morning, with a wind chill in the -8°C range.
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