Wednesday weather rollercoaster to bring brief winter blast to GTA

Winter is getting ready to clash with spring as the GTA braces for a weather rollercoaster on Wednesday.

Toronto and the GTA are now under a winter weather travel advisory with Environment Canada warning of reduced visibility and slippery conditions due this afternoon.

“A sharp cold front will move through southern Ontario today bringing a burst of heavy wet snow,” warns the weather agency. “Wind along the front may gust as high as 70 km/h.”

The daytime high will approach double digits, but the temperature is expected to plummet in the early afternoon before the arrival of snow, rain and wind.

“Quite an intense but brief mix of weather for the afternoon,” says CityNews meteorologist Jill Taylor.

Taylor says showers beginning around 1 p.m. will turn into rain around 2 p.m., which will change to a quick burst of snow closer to 3 p.m. The burst of snow will taper to flurries with the precipitation expected to wrap up around 4:30 p.m.

A clear start to our Wed for most areas BUT heads up for changeable weather today! Showers around 1pm, steadier rain by 2pm then quick burst of snow by 3pm. Should be out of the way by 4:30pm. Very strong gusty wind with falling temperatures. Guaranteed High 9°C dropping to 1°C

— Jill Taylor (@JillTaylorCity) March 29, 2023

Thundersnow is even a possibility. The city previously experienced the thundersnow phenomenon in early March when a major storm blanketed the GTA with rapidly accumulating snowfall.

“Don’t be surprised if we also get a thunderstorm, or thundersnow, and some hail,” Taylor says. “Or perhaps some graupel.”

Graupel differs from hail, occurring when soft, small pellets form from water droplets freeze onto a snow crystal.

Toronto can expect around one to two centimetres of total snowfall when it’s all said and done. The brief winter blast will be accompanied by strong wind gusts.

Wednesday’s guaranteed high of 9 C will be reached by the early afternoon before the wintry mix arrives. It will feel like -6 by the late afternoon.

Thursday calls for sun and cloud with a high of 5 C. Friday will see periods of rain and gusty wind with a high near 9 C.