Snowfall Warning for: City of Toronto
ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA AT 4:15 PM EST TUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2013
Summary
Heavy snow overnight into Wednesday morning.
Recommended Action
Details
A large moisture laden low pressure system from Texas has reached Indiana and is tracking northeast towards Lake Erie. Precipitation well in advance of this winter storm has reached Southwestern Ontario and will move into the regions extending from Southern Lake Huron to the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas this evening. The precipitation will start out as various sloppy mixtures of rain and wet snow at first. However as the storm centre gets closer, expect a changeover to all snow overnight across the regions as the temperature drops to the freezing mark. The changeover to all snow will be delayed though immediately along the shoreline of Lake Ontario as the mild waters there will help to keep thermometers just above freezing for a little longer than further inland or over higher ground. The snow will come down quite heavy at times especially overnight into Wednesday with peak snowfall rates of 2 to 5 cm per hour during the most intense part of this storm. Total sno wfall amounts of 15 to 20 centimetres are likely by noon on Wednesday, although amounts near the Lake Ontario shore will be less. This storm will likely have a significant impact on travel especially Wednesday morning. Driving conditions will deteriorate quickly once the snow begins. Visibility may be reduced to less than 250 metres in very heavy snow. Untreated roads will quickly become snow covered and slippery. Travel plans should be altered accordingly. Environment Canada is closely monitoring this large Texas low and may issue snowfall warnings for other regions of Southern Ontario as required.
