Weather & Storm Watch

• Barrie - Collingwood - Hillsdale
• Midland - Coldwater - Orr Lake
• Orillia - Lagoon City -Washago
• Port Carling - Port Severn
• Bracebridge - Gravenhurst
• northern Kawartha Lakes

Current details:
Hazardous lake effect snow squalls expected through Friday.

Hazards:
Locally heavy snowfall with accumulations of 40 to 80 cm through Friday, though lesser amounts likely for the city of Barrie.
Peak snowfall rates of 5 to 10 cm per hour.
Very poor visibility at times in heavy snow and local blowing snow.

Timing:
Continuing into Friday.

Discussion:
Lake effect snow squalls off Lake Huron and Georgian Bay are developing today in the wake of a strong cold front. Strong westerly winds gusting up to 60 km/h will accompany the snow squalls resulting in blowing snow and significantly reduced visibility. Travel under the heaviest snow squalls is expected to be difficult to nearly impossible at times.

Locally higher snowfall amounts greater than 80 cm are possible, especially if a strong snow squall band remains over the same area.

Road closures are possible given the expected poor travel conditions.

Snow squalls cause weather conditions to vary considerably; changes from clear skies to heavy snow within just a few kilometres are common. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.

If you must travel, keep others informed of your schedule and destination and carry an emergency kit and mobile phone. Public Safety Canada encourages everyone to make an emergency plan and get an emergency kit with drinking water, food, medicine, a first-aid kit and a flashlight.

• Huntsville - Parry Sound

Current details:
Lake effect snow squalls likely tonight into Thursday morning.

Hazards:
Locally heavy snowfall with accumulations of 10 to 20 cm.
Very poor visibility at times in heavy snow.

Timing:
Beginning tonight and ending by Thursday afternoon.

Discussion:
Lake effect snow squalls off Georgian Bay will affect the area later tonight and Thursday morning. The snow squalls are expected to shift south of the area by Thursday afternoon, but may return Thursday night or Friday with additional accumulations.

Snow squalls cause weather conditions to vary considerably; changes from clear skies to heavy snow within just a few kilometres are common. Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations. Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations.

• Haliburton
  
  Current details:
  Snow squalls expected tonight through Friday morning.
  
  Hazards:
  Locally heavy snowfall with accumulations of 15 to 30 cm.
  Peak snowfall rates of 3 to 6 cm per hour.
  Very poor visibility at times in heavy snow and local blowing snow.
  
  Timing:
  Tonight through Friday morning.
  
  Discussion:
  Lake effect snow squall bands off Georgian Bay are expected beginning tonight. Strong westerly winds gusting up to 50 km/h will accompany the snow squalls resulting in local blowing snow and significantly reduced visibility at times. As is common with lake effect snow, the bands will shift considerably from time to time. Accumulations will be highly variable, although the highest amounts are expected west of Haliburton.
  
  Snow squalls cause weather conditions to vary considerably; changes from clear skies to heavy snow within just a few kilometres are common. Travel is expected to be hazardous due to reduced visibility in some locations.
  
  Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions.
  
• Dufferin
  Current details:
  Significant lake effect snow squalls expected late today through Friday.
  
  Hazards:
  Locally heavy snowfall with accumulations of 20 to 30 cm by Friday.
  Peak snowfall rates of 3 to 6 cm per hour.
  Very poor visibility at times in heavy snow and blowing snow.
  
  Timing:
  Beginning this afternoon or evening and continuing into Friday.
  
  Discussion:
  Lake effect snow squalls off Lake Huron are developing this afternoon and will persist into Friday. Strong westerly winds gusting up to 70 km/h will develop Thursday morning resulting in widespread blowing snow and significantly reduced visibility at times. Winds should diminish somewhat later in the day although lake effect snow will continue into Friday. The highest snowfall amounts are expected closer to Lake Huron.
  
  Snow squalls cause weather conditions to vary considerably; changes from clear skies to heavy snow within just a few kilometres are common. Road closures are possible.
  
  Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.
  
  

• Innisfil - New Tecumseth - Essa
• Dufferin

Snow squalls beginning tonight.

What:
Local heavy snowfall with accumulations of 15 to 30 cm.
Poor visibilities at times in heavy snow and blowing snow.

When:
Tonight through Thursday night.

Discussion:
Lake effect snow squalls off Lake Huron are forecast to develop once again in the wake of a strong cold front. Strong westerly winds gusting up to 60 km/h will accompany the snow squalls resulting in widespread blowing snow and significantly reduced visibility at times.

Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.

• Blue Mountains - northern Grey

Current details:
Hazardous lake effect snow squalls expected tonight through Friday. Blizzard conditions likely late overnight and Thursday morning.

Hazards:
Locally heavy snowfall with accumulations of 40 to 80 cm through Friday.
Westerly winds gusting to 80 km/h resulting in near zero visibility in blowing snow.
Peak snowfall rates of 5 to 10 cm per hour.

Timing:
Continuing into Friday, with the worst blizzard conditions late overnight and Thursday morning.

Discussion:
Lake effect snow squalls off Lake Huron are forecast to become better organized as the night progresses. Strong westerly winds gusting up to 80 km/h will develop late overnight into Thursday morning resulting in widespread blowing snow with near zero visibility. Winds should ease somewhat by Thursday afternoon, although heavy snowfall will continue into Friday. Travel is expected to be difficult to nearly impossible.

Locally higher snowfall amounts greater than 80 cm are possible if a strong snow squall band remains over the same area.

Road closures are likely given the expected dangerous travel conditions.

Travel is expected to be extremely hazardous due to widespread poor visibility. Rapidly accumulating snow will make travel difficult.

Travel is not recommended. If you must travel, keep others informed of your schedule and destination and carry an emergency kit and mobile phone. If you become stranded in a vehicle do not leave. The vehicle offers a form of protection from the cold. A single person walking through the snow is harder to find than a stranded car or truck.