Toronto could see its first snowfall of winter this week

This winter’s first snowfall is likely top of mind for people in Toronto now that December is on the horizon and all of the season’s festive decor, events and spirit in general have taken over.

With temperatures only recently dropping in the south of the province after a mild start to autumn, Mother Nature is preparing to give some regions their first real introduction to winter 2024-2025 this week — including, potentially, parts of the GTA.

Forecasts are now calling for a chance of snow, finally, not only further north, but down in and around Toronto and Niagara as early as Wednesday evening.

Toronto Pearson International Airport was among the first to warn residents of the possible wintry precipitation early Tuesday a.m, writing on X that travellers should “be prepared,” as “snow is on the way overnight Wednesday into Thursday with 1-2 cm expected in the GTA.”

The Weather Network (TWN) is likewise calling for our “first major snow squall event,” writing in a blog post that more than a whopping 30 cm of lake-effect snow is destined for Huron County, hitting Grand Bend, Owen Sound, and Parry Sound between Thursday and Sunday.

A swath of southern Ontario that reaches from Sarnia and London in the west to Barrie and the edge of Bancroft in the east will also likely see double-digit accumulation through the rest of this week.

And, just in time for the start of the month, the GTA — including downtown Toronto proper — may get a sprinkling as well.

As TWN alerts drivers in the aforementioned locales to buckle up and prepare for multiple days of low visibility and messy road conditions, it adds that Toronto residents are not completely in the clear, with “impacts to the GTA dependant on a localized strong squall showing up at the right place, and the right time, which we cannot rule out.”

Environment and Climate Change Canada Meteorologist Geoff Coulson tells blogTO that weather systems both above and below Toronto could, along with our presently chilly temps, indeed bring some of the white stuff.

“There may be some snowflakes floating around overnight tonight, but we’re not expecting anything really in the way of notable accumulations. Then there may be a few flurries around first thing on Thursday morning before that system pulls off to the east coast,” Coulson said over the phone on Thursday. 

EnviroCan’s forecast for the city as of early Wednesday afternoon shows a 40 per cent chance of flurries tonight, followed by a 40 per cent chance of flurries or rain showers during both Thursday and Friday. Then on Saturday, there’s a 40 per cent chance of snow, a 60 per cent chance on Sunday, and 30 per cent on Monday.

But, it shouldn’t be at all comparable to the storm about to rage on the edges of Lake Huron and around Georgian Bay, which locals in the city should still keep an eye on, especially if they’re travelling at all.

“It’s both a duration event and an intensity event, and it is going to be pretty big numbers accumulation-wise by the time all is said and done. There is a chance some of that lake effect will get into the GTA over the course of Friday night into parts of the weekend. But the heaviest accumulations will remain to the north of Toronto or to the northwest of Toronto.”

He adds that even if the city evades any notable snowfall in the coming days, citizens should definitely get their winterwear out of storage, put on their snow tires, and complete all necessary household winter maintenance ASAP if they haven’t already.

“Going forward, it looks like we’re looking at a stretch of colder weather now as we finish November and go into December.”