After several mild winters, Mother Nature delivered a true Canadian classic this season, with deep snow, icy winds, and lake effect storms. Climatologist David Phillips weighed in on this year’s winter, calling it a “good old-fashioned classic.”
The season got off to a dramatic start with heavy snowfall at the end of November, setting the tone for the months ahead. Gravenhurst saw a staggering 140 cm of snow within days, while Barrie had only a trace. “It was very local, a very ‘in your backyard’ kind of thing,” Phillips noted.
The snow continued to pile up throughout January and February, fuelled by classic lake-effect conditions. “If you ever wanted to do an analysis of lake-effect storms, boy, this was the year to do it,” Phillips said. By mid-March, Barrie had recorded 330 cm of snow—about 35% more than usual for this time of year. “It has been the winter of snow. I think people in Barrie are probably in better shape than they have been in a couple of years with all that shovelling.”
Despite the relentless snowfall, temperatures remained slightly above normal overall, averaging -5.6°C instead of the usual -5.9°C. “You might be surprised to hear this, but it was actually a little bit warmer than normal,” Phillips said. However, the number of frigid days below -20°C was still notable, with four recorded this winter compared to none last year.
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As the transition to spring begins it began at 5:01 this morning - the region is entering what Phillips calls the “mud, flood, and maple syrup season.” The combination of melting snow and frozen ground could lead to localized flooding. “We’ve already seen some flooding issues, and we still have snow to melt. The ground is like cement in some places,” he warned.
But while many eagerly anticipate warmer weather, Phillips cautions against expecting an instant shift. “People want spring to be here today, and we’re going to see some mild days, but I think that’s kind of like a false spring. Nature doesn’t really give you the signal to put away the winter gear just yet.” In fact, we typically get 20 or so centimetres of snow in April, though it is often the 'here today, gone tomorrow' variety.
Phillips says long-term models suggest a warmer-than-normal trend for April, May, and June, with slightly drier conditions. “We’re not going to have a rush to spring like last year,” he said. “It’s going to take its sweet time.”
For now, residents should be prepared for the classic back-and-forth of spring in Canada—where one day feels like May, and the next reminds you that winter isn’t quite done. As Phillips put it, “Nature can fool us. Just when you think you’re in the clear, it throws you a curveball.”
