Strong winds, blowing snow predicted for York Region
Approaching cold front will bring return of frigid temps
YorkRegion.com
January 19, 2013
By Bernie O'Neill
Strong winds and flurries of snow are expected in parts of York Region for Sunday afternoon and evening as a cold front moves into southern Ontario.
Environment Canada is predicting areas such as Markham, Richmond Hill and Vaughan could see gusts of between 40 and 60 km/h and up to 4 cm of snow.
A sharp cold front will sweep south across Southern Ontario reaching Southern Georgian Bay to just south of Algonquin Park by early Sunday evening and the Hwy. 401 corridor overnight.
The front is expected to bring a general 2 to 4 cm snowfall to the region however areas northeast of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay could see local snowfall amounts up to 10 cm, Environment Canada says.
Strong and gusty southwesterly winds are expected to develop ahead of the front. As snow associated with the front moves in, local blowing snow reducing visibility to 200 metres or less at times will be possible especially over exposed areas. The strongest winds are likely near the shores of the Great Lakes where gusts between 50 and 70 km/h are possible. Wind warnings have been issued for the northeast shore of Lake Erie and Picton-Sandbanks Park where gusts to 90 km/h are forecast.
Along the front, bands of intense flurries may develop giving a brief period of near zero visibilities in snow and blowing snow along with a quick few centimetres of accumulation, Environment Canada warns.
Behind the front an Arctic airmass will settle in over the region. Lake effect flurries and local snow squalls are expected to develop southeast of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay Monday. In addition, the deepening cold air combined with moderate winds will result in cold wind chill values ranging from - 25 to - 35C Tuesday morning.
The front is bringing with it yet another blast of Arctic air that will see temperatures plunge at the start of the work week. Forecasters are predicting a low of -17C on Monday, falling to -20C on Tuesday and -21C on Wednesday.
